Most people know that to get a job they need a resume (a curriculum vitae) so that the companies interested in hiring them will know what they studied in the university, their job status, their health and so on in order to decide whether to hire them or not. However, very few people know about the "resumes" of the food/agricultural products they eat. Where did the food/product come from? Are there any harmful chemical residues? Where was the food/product manufactured and stored? The process of production for agricultural products is actually closely related to daily living in more ways than we can imagine. In order to increase people's confidence in domestic agricultural products, COA began to put in motion a production and sales tracking system in 2007. Today, when shopping for food at markets, consumers can find out the process of production for the desired item through the tracking code on the TAP label. It's really simple!

Product production and sales records are used to track the processing of food from production to sales. Lin Jen, director of COA's information center, stated that in order to be certified as a TAP agricultural product, the producer must first farm or raise animals in accordance with Taiwan’s Good Agricultural Practices and use pesticides approved by relevant government departments. After meeting these rules for three months, the producer may ask the certification authority to test soil, water and agricultural goods. Once everything has been verified to match the standard, the TAP certification stamps will be issued. Also the producer has to provide detailed information about the soil, the type and species of the agricultural product, the time of planting, fertilizing, application of insecticide and pesticides, land management and harvest for the database. The distribution center, distributors, wholesalers and retailers must also provide information on their operations as part of the entire process from the farmer to the consumer. With all this information available, consumers can use the tracking code on the TAP stamp and find information on the production and certification process for the item being purchased. If there are any problems with the product, the appropriate authority can quickly find out the origin and the process of distribution and marketing and if necessary recalling. The TAP stamp represents a safeguard for consumers.

 Farming is a process that’s complicated, surprisingly (or not so surprisingly) delicate, and very difficult. Everyone knows in one way or another that farmers have to work very hard to get their products – almost like their lifeblood –to consumers. But with the traditional sales methods for agricultural products, most people cannot see the actual process under which these farmers have toiled, sweating and sometimes even shedding silent tears. With sales and production "resumes", these stories of the farmers’ work can be told to consumers and help foster a sense of appreciation. Moreover, these products can be sold at better prices, and with their top-grade quality, they'll attract more customers because today, more and more consumers care about the quality of products. Once such consumers are satisfied about quality, they'll become repeat uyers. For educational purposes, when consumers read the complete information on produce, including when seeds were sowed, when fertilizers were applied, when the produce was watered, when insecticide and pesticide was applied, and so on, they can understand and appreciate the entire process and the hard work the producers have gone through.

By checking sales and production records, we as consumers can find out where produce originated; prices and qualities often vary depending on the location of production. In addition to telling us where a product is from, the TAP stamp also helps us to authenticate products and helps us avoid buying substandard goods.

 With these sales and production records listing all such information clearly, there's a way to trace back to the origins of a product. If there are any serious issues, instead of having to recall a whole category of a product, the relevant authorities can quickly find where a product was distributed and sold and recall it as soon as possible; that helps to lower risk for producers and dispels any unnecessary panic on the part of consumers. With the sales and production codes in place, producers can perform better product management and lower the cost of management.

 Ms. Lin stated that products with TAP sales and production records show that farming is now a step closer to digital technology. These products are more competitive than products from unknown origins. Consumers trust these agricultural products and are more loyal to them. These products create more value in the market and help to make the transportation process safer, and finally, help prevent any ill effects from food safety incidents. So sales and production records make winners of consumers, producers, distributors and the entire agricultural industry. They represent the new modern face of traditional Taiwanese agriculture, and they're also symbols of good faith and honesty in which all consumers can trust.