In 1979, when the town of Tahu in Miaoli County first opened a "tourist strawberry farm" where visitors could come and pick their own berries, tourists from as far away as Taipei chartered buses to travel south and experience this new concept in farming. And so was born the Republic of China's first "tourist farm."

This novel idea, long popular in Japan, Europe, and the United States, has a number of advantages for farmers. First, it saves on harvesting time and labor; second, it reduces significantly the amount of money that must be spent on shipping the produce to market; and third, it cuts down on the amount of waste that inevitably accrues as a result of spoilage and bruising during shipping.

The tourist farm concept has obvious advantages for the visitors as well. A city as densely populated and industrialized as Taipei naturally has a very limited number of scenic areas available for its residents' enjoyment. The proximity of the city to several major agricultural areas means that urbanites do not have far to travel to find fresh air and the wholesome atmosphere of the outdoors. Thus, by providing both a retreat from the bustle of urban life for visitors and increased business for farmers, the tourist farm manages to satisfy two desirable goals at once. The idea has therefore been solidly endorsed by the Taipei Department of Reconstruction.

Since 1980, the Taipei municipal administration has assisted in the establishment of five tourist farms in the Taipei suburbs: the Mucha Tea Farm, the Peitou Orange Farm, the Nankang Tea Farm, the Yangmingshan Flower Garden, and the Shihlin Farm. All together, these farms represent a land area of about 283 hectares and are inhabited by some 161 families.

Located to the southeast of Taipei, the Mucha Tea Farm incorporates the three districts of Changhu, Maokung, and Watsuo. Some fifty-three families farm the hundred or so hectares of mountainside tea fields. As Wang Yi-chung, head of the Department of Reconstruction, notes: "The area of the Mucha Tea Farm is quite extensive, it is located quite close to the city, and the access roads to the area were systematized early on; thus, this area was purposely chosen for the establishment of a tourist farm." The local farmers, when first presented with the idea, were of course given the option of refusing to join. It was only after careful consideration of all the pros and cons that the farming families in the area gave their support to the tourist farm scheme.

A visit to the Mucha Tea Farm differs in several important ways from visits to tourist farms growing fruits or vegetables. For example, guests are not permitted to go into the fields to pick the tea for themselves, though they are welcome to taste-test and buy as much as they like. This is not only because most visitors do not understand how one goes about the process of selecting tea leaves straight from the field, but also because tea must go through several stages of drying and preparing before it is ready to be used for drinking. The Mucha farm does have paths through the fields on which visitors are free to stroll, watching the experienced farmers at work harvesting or planting the tea crop. Small pavilions and observation platforms have been constructed at various points along the paths to allow the visitors to rest and enjoy an unobstructed view of the farming scene spread before them.

Drinking tea at the tea farm is a totally different experience from enjoying the beverage in one's own home. Guests to the farm will be invited to sit with the farmers and their families to partake of a cup or two and chat. Although the farmers are clearly "in business," they have maintained their simple and easy-going way of life and will go out of their way to make their guests feel at home. The farmers' favorite topic is, of course, tea--and they are more than happy to spend the day introducing the novice to the complexities of this marvelous leaf.

On a visit to a tea farm, is it possible to resist buying some excellent-quality, low-priced tea to take back home? Probably not. As tea farmer Chang Yueh-tan remarks: "All of the farmers sell their tea at wholesale prices to the guests, which is of course much cheaper than buying it in a city market." Each kilogram of the highest-quality Mucha tea sells for roughly NT$1,600 (US$40.00) when bought at the farm, as opposed to city prices of NT$2,500-3,000 (US$62.50-75.00), a savings of almost half to the consumer.

The Peitou Orange Farm, due north of Taipei, welcomes guests right into the orange groves to select and pluck their own fruit. Armed with a knife and a plastic bag, the visitor is encouraged to wander through the trees and sample to his heart's content. The fruit is as fresh as it can be and, at only NT$10 (US$0.25) to the kilogram, far cheaper than the average market price.

Although the Peitou farm has enjoyed great success, allowing visitors to pick their own fruit often creates problems for the farmers. Some guests do not bother to follow the instructions given by the farmers on how to treat the trees and cut the fruit. The proper way to remove a ripe orange from its branch is to cut the stem about three centimeters away from the fruit. Yet many visitors simply pull the oranges from the trees with their hands, which can damage both tree and fruit. This causes the farmers no small amount of anxiety, and they have made special efforts to ensure that each person entering the groves has been instructed in the proper techniques for selecting and removing fruit. However, despite the difficulties created by inconsiderate tourists, the Peitou Orange Farm has produced a great increase in the prosperity of the farmers who care for its groves.

Unlike the Mucha Tea Farm and the Peitou Orange Farm, the Shihlin Farm has produce available for visitors on a year-round basis. The slogan of this tourist farm is: "In spring, the scent of flowers; in summer, wax apple (lien-wu) season; in autumn, a wealth of vegetables; and in winter, fresh oranges." The year-round growing program of the Shihlin Farm has been successful in attracting a large number of visitors.

To the surprise of the farmers who manage the Shihlin Farm, it is the wax apples in the summer and the oranges in the winter which entice the largest crowds. Those coming to buy the flowers of spring and vegetables of autumn are comparatively few. This trend has been attributed, in part, to the great popularity of the Yangmingshan National Park among Taipei residents; the park is filled with flowers during the spring season and has numerous other attractions as well. And the abundance of fresh vegetables available in the city at reasonably inexpensive prices during the fall probably accounts for the low number of visitors to Shihlin Farm during that time of year. In order to stimulate interest in the farm during these seasons, farmers are likely to attempt some innovations--such as the clearing of areas for picnicking and recreation--in the near future.

Overall, the tourist farm has been welcomed in the Taipei area for the benefits it provides the urban dweller and the farmer alike. As the population pressures continue to mount within the Republic of China's major cities, the establishment of more farms will continue to provide natural havens where urbanites can "get away from it all" --and enjoy nature's vast and delicious cornucopia in the process.

(B.J. Congelosi)

[Picture Caption]

1. Strawberries have an appealing appearance and are easy to pick--a most appropriate crop for a tourist farm. 2. The sight of enticingly fresh and luscious strawberries is a novel experience for this little girl from the city. 3. A father and son pack their freshly picked strawberries in boxes before weighing.

1. Visitors to the Mucha Tea Farm relax in a thatched-roof pavilion. 2. The lush green tea fields of the Mucha Tea Farm. 3. Women farmers busily picking tea leaves. 4. The first step in the processing of tea leaves--drying in the sun.

1. The fertile trees of the Peitou Orange Farm. 2. Visitors can buy oranges to take back home--a kilogram only costs about NT$10 (US$0.25). 3. A whole family enjoys together the pleasure of picking their own oranges. 4. The pure white blossoms of the cauliflower plant. 5. Farmers shade themselves from the bright sunshine while picking vegetables. 6. The bright green of the vegetable fields is pleasing to the eye. 7. Passing by vegetable gardens, strollers stop to buy fresh produce to take home. 8. The farms also sell pumpkins--this one weighs more than eight kilograms.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

2. The sight of enticingly fresh and luscious strawberries is a novel experience for this little girl from the city.

3. A father and son pack their freshly picked strawberries in boxes before weighing.

1. Visitors to the Mucha Tea Farm relax in a thatched-roof pavilion.

2. The lush green tea fields of the Mucha Tea Farm.

3. Women farmers busily picking tea leaves.

4. The first step in the processing of tea leaves--drying in the sun.

1. The fertile trees of the Peitou Orange Farm.

2. Visitors can buy oranges to take back home--a kilogram only costs about NT$10 （US$0.25）.

3. A whole family enjoys together the pleasure of picking their own oranges.

4. The pure white blossoms of the cauliflower plant.

5. Farmers shade themselves from the bright sunshine while picking vegetables.

6. The bright green of the vegetable fields is pleasing to the eye.

7. Passing by vegetable gardens, strollers stop to buy fresh produce to take home.

8. The farms also sell pumpkins--this one weighs more than eight kilograms.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.

This tourist farm has planted many varieties of beautiful flowers, creating a lovely haven for urbanites to enjoy.