The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the livelihoods of peach farmers in Lala Mountain, located in Fuxing District, Taoyuan City, as the annual physical sales exhibition was canceled, and visitor numbers to the area plummeted due to safety measures. In response, the Information Management Department at Chung Yuan Christian University initiated the “Support Frontliners and Help Small Farmers Amid the Pandemic” campaign. Through departmental group purchases and alumni donations, the campaign quickly raised funds to purchase 100 boxes of Lala Mountain peaches within three days. These were distributed to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital in New Taipei City and Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, to encourage healthcare workers and support indigenous farmers during these challenging times.
Kuang-Cheng Liu, a peach farmer from the Hakawan community, shared, “June is the peak season for peaches, and this year’s yield and sweetness levels are higher than usual due to less rainfall. However, the pandemic has severely impacted sales, and some delivery services have temporarily suspended operations due to high demand. I was worried that all our hard work this year might go to waste. Thankfully, the teachers at Chung Yuan Christian University, who have always supported us, stepped in to help. Their efforts not only boosted sales but also allowed healthcare workers to enjoy our fresh and juicy peaches!”
The campaign began with a bulk order of 100 boxes of peaches purchased directly from farmers. These were delivered to hospitals by the farmers themselves, demonstrating both a commitment to supporting indigenous agricultural workers and gratitude toward frontline medical staff.
Hsiu-Li Liao, Head of the Information Management Department, highlighted the department’s 18-year friendship with the Atayal indigenous people of the Hakawan community. She recounted how faculty and students initially began by teaching local children computer skills during weekend visits. Later, with support from Fu-Yang Hsiao, the principal of Kuang Hua Elementary School, the department leveraged its expertise to develop an e-commerce platform for online peach sales. This effort generated an impressive monthly sales volume of NT$5 million, establishing a milestone for fruit e-commerce. Liao added, “Four of the children who participated in those weekend classes are now teachers at Kuang Hua Elementary School. Others use the skills they learned to help their family businesses, such as managing customer groups on LINE, creating Facebook fan pages, and using Google Forms for order processing.”
Over the years, faculty members including I-Chang Tasi, Su-Houn Liu, Chao-Ming Wu, Shih-Ming Pi, and Hsiu-Li Liao have consistently led students to support the Atayal community in Fuxing District. Their efforts have focused on bridging the digital divide in remote areas as part of the university’s commitment to social responsibility. Beyond peaches, they have expanded into online sales of other agricultural products, such as persimmons, mushrooms, and oranges. They have also contributed to the digital preservation of Atayal culture, hosted international exchange camps, and provided education in information technology.
Chung Yuan students have frequently used the Hakawan community as a practical field for developing their capstone projects. These projects include designing and building apps for learning phonetics, promoting tourism, managing peach sales, and employing IoT technologies for orchard management. Through these activities, students gain valuable experience in applying technology, improving communication and coordination skills, and enhancing teamwork abilities.
During the pandemic, while protecting oneself is crucial, spreading love and care is equally important. Chung Yuan Christian University hopes this campaign inspires others to join in supporting the hardworking individuals who sustain our communities.
Pre-Order Form for Lala Mountain Peaches: https://reurl.cc/novxk8
For personal use: Pick up at the Information Management Department of Chung Yuan Christian University.
For healthcare workers: Direct delivery from farmers.
