Locals get taste of Taiwanese produce

The Emerging Fruit Tree Project, in partnership with Hawane Co-operative, par­ticipated at the Malkerns Farmer’s Market on Saturday September 19, 2026, bringing a variety of fresh farm produce to the local community and creating an opportunity for direct interaction with consumers.

The event attracted a steady flow of families and community members who came to purchase fresh produce and learn more about the products on display. Among the highlights were Taiwanese guavas, which at­tracted considerable attention for their distinctive aroma and sweet flavour. The Taiwanese cabbage was also particularly well received, selling out quickly after going on sale, demonstrating strong consumer interest in the produce.

Taiwanese guavas

Taiwanese guavas were among the most popular products at the market. Their distinctive fragrance and sweet taste attracted consumers to sample and learn more about the fruit, generating lively conversations and strong interest at the exhibition and sales area.

Through product tasting and direct engagement with consumers, the Taiwanese guava served not only as a fresh agricultural product but also as a means of agricultural and cultural exchange, giving local consumers an opportunity to learn more about Taiwan’s specialty fruit and cultiva­tion practices.

Taiwanese cabbage

In addition to the guavas, Taiwan­ese cabbage was another major highlight of the market. With its full appearance and crisp leaves, the cabbage was well received by local consumers and sold out quickly during the event.

The strong demand for Taiwanese cabbage provided valuable market feedback on local consumers’ inter­est in fresh, high-quality vegetables. It also highlighted opportunities for further promotion of Taiwanese specialty agricultural products in Eswatini. For participating farmers, the opportunity to engage directly with consumers provided valuable insights into consumer preferences and market demand, which can help inform future production and marketing efforts.

Strengthening agricultural ex­change

The project noted that participating in the market was about more than simply selling agricultural products. It provided an important platform for strengthening connections with the local community, introducing consumers to agricultural produc­tion and allowing farmers to receive direct feedback from the market.

The event also demonstrated the progress made in applying Taiwan­ese agricultural knowledge, tech­niques and specialty varieties in the local context. By connecting agricul­tural production, technical exchange and market access, the cooperation is extending beyond technical de­velopment to practical community and market applications. Hawane Co-operative highlighted the value of participating in local markets, where farmers have greater opportunities to interact directly with consumers and build stronger connections be­tween their products and the market. The farm-to-market approach can also increase the visibility of locally produced agricultural products while creating additional opportuni­ties for community engagement and development.