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Oncidium (spray orchid) exports generated over NT$100 million for Taichung’s Houli District in 2011, accounting for 40% of Taiwan’s total Oncidium export revenue.
Flamingo lilies (Anthurium) also contributed significantly to the region’s exports with at least NT$30 million in cut flowers sent abroad last year. The industry has indeed become the goose that laid the golden egg for Houli.
In fact, under the guidance of the Agriculture and Food Agency of the Council of Agriculture, the district has become the “Silicon Valley” of cut flowers in Taichung. There are about 19 areas in Taiwan exclusively producing flowers, like those in Houli. These zones cultivate Oncidium and flamingo lilies, which have had robust exports, along with chrysanthemums, lisianthus (Eustoma), and gladioli. In 2011 they exported a total of more than 40 million plants, generating NT$650 million in export revenue.
Houli alone produced NT$160 million of export revenue, making it one of the most productive regions in terms of foreign exchange created through flower exports.
Houli’s exclusive Oncidium zone comprises a total of 38 flower growers on 31 hectares of agricultural land, who are organized into three production and sales cooperatives. These operations generated NT$110 million in export revenue in 2011, with an average export price per stem of NT$19—triple the domestic wholesale price.
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