In Izmir’s Kemalpasa district, growers cultivate early cherry varieties for export; due to a decline in European cherry production, these growers are experiencing their best season in recent years.
The region produces around 60,000 tons of cherries annually, but the fruit is high risk for growers due to its sensitivity to frost, hail and rainfall. Hence growers are happy to be experiencing a good year. Last year the cherries were sold for between 5-6 lira a kilo, this year the price has increased to 12-14 lira.
‘’Best price in a long time’’
Mumtaz Akalin exports cherries from the region, in a statement to an Anadolu Agency reporter, he said ‘’Last year the yield was very high, 70% higher than this year. This year the yield is low, but the prices are very good. The growers are pleased with the prices, especially for the export variety Ziraat 900. They’re the best prices we’ve seen for a long time.’’
Akalin said adverse weather in important European cherry growing countries, such as Spain, Italy, Greece and France, had contributed to pushing up the price.
Although Turkey’s former biggest market Russia isn’t buying cherries this year, demand from Germany, England and Scandinavian countries are making up for it. The volume sent to the Middle East has also increased.
Akalin said that prices on the domestic market could increase to as much as 20 lira a kilo, but are expected to reduce to the 5-6 lira level when the harvest is finished; the early harvest is continuing at the moment.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization data, in 2015, Turkey was first in the world for cherry production, with 535,000 tons, followed by the USA with 345,000 tons and China with 220,000. Turkey exported 69,000 tons last year, putting it in third place behind the USA and Chile.
(1 Turkish Lira=0.34 USD)
Source: sondakika.com
