Green bamboo shoot prices in Taiwan rise due to drought conditions

Summer is approaching, which means this seasons’ vegetables are right around the corner. However, drought conditions in southern Taiwan are making some vegetables harder to come by. Video script: Green bamboo shoots have a curved, horn-like shape and are the most popular variety of bamboo shoots to consume in Taiwan. This time of the year is the most productive period for this vegetable, but bamboo shoot harvests went down by 20-30% due to the persisting drought conditions in southern Taiwan. A local authority says farmers have consequently been using groundwater to grow the bamboo shoots instead of rainwater, which can make the bamboo shoots lose their tender texture. Bamboo shoot quantity and quality have decreased, and prices have increased by 20%. Average costs of one catty, or 0.6 kilograms, of bamboo shoots have been priced around NT$90 (US$3). However, one catty has reached as high as NT$150 (US$5). One woman says to cook their family-favorite dish, the bamboo shoot soup ...