戰後臺灣蘆筍罐頭產銷體系的建立與推動（1950-1960年代）

The Development of the Canned Asparagus Production and Marketing System in Postwar Taiwan (1950s-1960s)

本文說明戰後臺灣蘆筍罐頭產銷體系的建立與推動過程，藉此檢視「新興作物」蘆筍的引進栽培，對於臺灣農業史的意義以及拓展臺灣食品罐頭外銷的多元市場。臺灣引進蘆筍栽培，一方面影響臺灣對於國際農業科學知識、技術的採納及交流，但是在重要農業技術的突破上，則出現被視為臺灣特色的「留母莖栽培法」，此方法乃倣傚臺灣「竹筍」生產經驗而得，故臺灣蘆筍栽培採收的關鍵技術實奠基於既有的本土農業生產知識。
臺灣產製的蘆筍罐頭，進入1960年代中後期，超越美國，一舉出口到當時國際重要的蘆筍罐頭消費市場西德，爾後並在蘆筍罐頭的外銷成績上躍為世界首位。政府以競爭國際貿易市場為由，亦同步介入蘆筍罐頭的產銷體系，參照主要競爭對手美國與日本的標準，制定臺灣筍罐及原料檢收的規格，藉由官方政策的落實，使得國際市場的標準，深刻影響臺灣本土農村社會與農民。至於官方推動產銷體系的結果，更加強化筍農與農會的紐帶，大體建構起農民—農會系統—食品罐頭廠—臺灣聯合蘆筍罐頭廠出口公司（罐頭公會）—西德進口商的產銷體系。要言之，在民間與政府、本土農村社會與國際貿易市場不斷互動的過程中，促使1960年代中後期臺灣蘆筍罐頭在國際市場上的崛起。

This study traces the development of canned asparagus production and marketing in postwar Taiwan. Moreover, it examines the impact of the newly introduced crop of asparagus on the agricultural history of Taiwan and the diversity of canned agricultural exports from Taiwan. The introduction and cultivation of asparagus enhanced Taiwan’s adoption of international agricultural science and technology. However, the critical breakthrough in farming methods, the“mother stalk”cultivation method widely practiced in Taiwan, was seen as a locally developed agricultural skill. This method was derived from the farming approach applied to the cultivation of bamboo shoots in Taiwan. In other words, the key technology for the cultivation and harvesting of asparagus in Taiwan was actually developed from local agricultural knowledge.
In the mid-to-late 1960s, canned asparagus produced in Taiwan surpassed that in the US, most of which was exported to West Germany, the most internationally important canned asparagus market at the time. Taiwan’s export sales of canned asparagus soon ranked top in the world. In order to optimize the stability of production and to stay competitive in the global market, the government intervened in the production and marketing of canned asparagus. Specifications for the production of canned asparagus and inspection of ingredients were formulated with reference to those of Taiwan’s main competitors, including the US and Japan. Implementation of international market standards had a significant impact on local farming communities and farmers.
Moreover, the production and marketing system developed by the government strengthened the connection between the asparagus farmers and the farmers’associations, creating a production and marketing chain that linked farmers, farmers’associations, food canneries, canned asparagus exporters, and West German importers. In sum, active interaction between the people and the government, as well as local farming communities and international trade markets, promoted the rise of Taiwan as the key canned asparagus exporter in the mid-to-late 1960s.