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[Intensive Agriculture] Taiwan's Butterfly Orchids Showcased in Sydney

Posted by techman 
[Intensive Agriculture] Taiwan's Butterfly Orchids Showcased in Sydney (Chinese Version)

CNA (2011/09/21) The first batch of Taiwanese butterfly orchids potted in growing media and shipped to Australia was displayed at a flower farm in Sydney Wednesday, a week after their landmark export to the country.

The orchids, which arrived in Australia Sept. 13, were exhibited at Flora International in the Sydney suburb of Leppington, where agriculture and trade officials from the two countries gathered to celebrate the event.

Taiwan received approval to ship its potted butterfly orchids to Australia on Jan. 6, making it the first country to be granted the privilege.

Taiwanese butterfly orchids can sustain more than 25 days of container shipping and recover well after arriving in the designated country, according to the Council of Agriculture (COA) in a press release on its website.

The COA attributed this to the fact that Taiwanese butterfly orchids are grown in water weeds, which keep them moist, and that Taiwan boasts sophisticated maritime fresh-keeping techniques.

The export of Taiwanese butterfly orchids potted in growing media has more than tripled over the past six years.

Since the first batch of potted butterfly orchids were shipped to the U.S. in Jan. 2005, Taiwan's overall export value of the flower increased from US$27.05 million in 2005 to US$82.55 million in 2010, according to COA statistics.

In 2010, Taiwan shipped more than 14 million butterfly orchids to the U.S. through ocean freight. Choosing ocean freight over air freight was estimated to have helped exporters save at least NT$600 million (US$20.03 million) in transport costs.

A total of 2,200 potted butterfly orchids were shipped to Australia under the new program, estimated to yield a profit of around US$2,200. They come in four different types, all developed by Taiwan.

In the past, butterfly orchids exported to Australia were required to be removed of their growing media and undergo three months of quarantine and inspection after their arrival in the country.

The new measure to export potted orchids will raise the orchids' survival rate from 50 percent in the past to 95 percent, and shorten their recovery period from two months to three weeks, so that they can enter local markets more quickly, said the COA.


Reference:
CNA 2011/09/21

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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/24/2011 11:01AM by techman.
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