Politicians' picture-perfect moment is kissing a voter's baby but in Taiwan, vegetables are kings of the campaign trail.

Whenever the democratic island of 23 million people goes to the polls, candidates race to pose with smorgasbords of vegetables such as large white radishes, which are a favorite. The green edibles are gifted by voters hoping to show their approval.

Taiwan loves homonyms or words that sound identical or similar but can carry multiple meanings which explains the nation's dalliance with veggies.

In a political culture infused with good luck symbols and superstition — where candidates often seek advice from feng-shui masters when deciding the location or opening date of their campaign headquarters — photo-ops with the right vegetable are routine.

Garlic (suan) is immensely popular because when pronounced in Taiwanese it also sounds like the word for "chosen."

The daikon radish (tsai-tao) is a winner because it is pronounced nearly the same as "good luck," while pineapple (ong-lai) is a homonym for "prosperity comes."

Ke Chiong-shu, 60, has been selling vegetables at the Wuxing Street Market in the capital Taipei for more than a decade.

Many of her district's candidates have visited the market in recent weeks as Taiwan gears up to hold island-wide local elections on Saturday.

Former health minister Chen Shih-chung's pressed the flesh as he campaigned for the Taipei mayoralty, one of the most important posts up for grabs this weekend.

Ke grabbed some radish and garlic greens from her stall.

"Hope you get elected," she beamed as Chen proudly turned around to display the gifted veggies to a chanting crowd behind.