西螺米及米製品 Xiluo Rice and rice groceries

西螺鎮位於台灣第一大溪流濁水溪中游南岸，濁水溪沿岸土壤肥沃，西螺所生產的稻米，自然香且Ｑ，在日治時代，連日本天皇都指定要吃台灣的西螺米，可見其受喜愛的程度。日治時期，西螺因盛產稻米，碾米加工廠有六十幾家之多，西螺米因而盛名遠傳。直到今天西螺所產的台梗9號、益全香米、台梗14號、台農71號等，都是市場上的熱銷品。

西螺農會更以米研發出各項新產品，如發芽玄米，米香、米果等。 濁水溪孕育出高黏度的圓糯米，也是製作麻糬的最佳材料，西螺麻糬遵造古法製作，利用圓糯米炊煮熟爛之後，再倒入攪拌器中加糖拌勻，待稍為冷卻後，再以手工包餡料。紅豆、芝麻、花生、滷肉、椰子等，甜鹹口味都有，吃起來的口感，香Q有勁，鹹的獨特、甜的不膩，讓許多人一試成主顧！

Xiluo is situated in the southern bank of the central part of Zhuo Shui River. The soil here is especially rich and filled with nutrients such as our rice, they both are aromatic and chewy. During the time of Japanese occupation, even the Japanese Emperor preferred Xiluo’s rice to their own one. This is a clear indication of our rice excellent taste. In that period, as rice crop was copious, more than 60 rice factories were opened and for this reason Xiluo’s rice reputation started to increase more end more. Up until now the products made out of Xiluo’s rice are hot-selling items in the market. 

Xiluo Farmer’s Association issued various kinds of new products, such as sprouted brown rice, rice flour, rice crackers and many others. Zhuo Shui River helps grow round glutinous rice breed with high viscosity which makes it the best material for making Mochi. Xiluo’s Mochi is made following an old traditional method, mixing the rice with sugar only after the glutinous rice is cooked. The filling is done manually after the rice cools down a little bit. Everyone can choose their preferred taste as there are various kinds of delicious filling, such as red beans, sesame paste, coconut filling, peanut filling, and unique sweet, savory and salty flavors.

蔬菜及農特產 Vegetable and agricultural products

每天有全台灣六成以上的蔬菜在西螺鎮的果菜市場交易，其供應量直接影響國內蔬菜行情。本鎮蔬菜的種植，屬專業生產區。由農會輔導推廣的網室蔬菜區，就有1200公頃，這種技術性的栽培方式，不但可降低農民因天氣、病蟲等所帶來的損失，其生產的蔬菜較嫩，品質好，廣受消費者喜愛。近年來地方更積極推廣有機蔬菜栽培產業，希望讓全國民眾能享用到更健康的新鮮蔬菜

More than 60% of all vegetables grown on Taiwan pass through Xiluo’s Grand Market every day by which directly influences domestic supply of vegetables across the country. The town is considered a professional production area in this field. The Farmer’s Association regulates the net vegetable zone, which is an area equal to 1,200 hectares. In Xiluo, we use high-tech advanced cultivation techniques which allow us to reduce damage from rainfall, pests or unsuitable temperatures. This make the vegetables produced by our farmers more tender and of high quality. In recent years, organic farming has been promoted very actively in hope that all Taiwanese can enjoy fresh and healthy vegetables every day.

西瓜 Large watermelons

早期濁水溪河床的砂地盛產西瓜，西螺瓜的水份足及沙軟可口，名噪全台，於河岸邊可欣賞紅橋綠瓜美景。近年來因集集攔河堰的關係，溪底水道縮減，水域生態丕變，種植面積大幅減少。但當您來訪西螺時，仍可於省道及西螺大橋旁，看到西瓜販賣商。盛夏炎暑途經西螺大橋時，享用西螺自產一大片冰涼多汁的大西瓜，清涼暢快、暑意全消。

The Zhuo Shui’s riverbed sand used to be famous for its ability to produce large watermelons. As they were juicy and tasted delicious, they became well-known all over the island. In Xiluo, on Zhuo Shui River banks the contarst between the red of the bridge and the green of watermelons create an enjoyable landscape. In recent years due to the costruction of artificial channels in Jiji the normal flow of the river changed radically.  Besides that, young people here are not often concerned about farming matters. As a result of that, the space for growing watermelons reduced in its size drastically. If you stop by to visit though, you can still see many watermelon sellers on the side of Xiluo Bridge and also along Route One road, so during hot midsummer nights on the way to Xiluo Bridge you can enjoy one big juicy fresh watermelon slice and all your worries will disappear.