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Press release…
Major Meeting in Dried Fig Production: All Parties Come Together in Aydın
In Türkiye’s western province of Aydın, the capital of dried fig production, all parties united at the “Fig Summit” to ensure a smooth and comfortable export journey for the “fruit of paradise,” dried figs. The meeting emphasized the need for proper selection and sorting during the production phase for sustainable dried fig exports.
The “Fig Summit” was held in Aydın before the 2026/27 season, for dried figs, a product in which Türkiye is a world leader in production and export, bringing in 400 million dollars in foreign currency annually.
The summit, chaired by Aydın Governor Dr. Osman Varol and held at the Sarılop Meeting Hall of the Erbeyli Fig Research Institute, addressed production, export, and market problems and proposed solutions before the upcoming dried fig season.
At the “Fig Summit,” public institutions, local governments, producer representatives, chambers of commerce and industry, research institutions and exporters came together for the first time on this scale, demonstrating a shared will for the future of dried figs. The meeting was also attended by Aydın Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu, members of parliament, representatives of public institutions and organizations, producer organizations, chambers of commerce and commodity exchange representatives, exporting companies and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association, Yusuf Gabay, members of the Association’s Board of Directors and Supervisory Board and Association members.
The strongest message conveyed at the meeting was that dried figs are not just an agricultural product; they represent Aydın’s millennia-old production heritage, the labour of the producers, the exporters’ power to open up to the world, and Türkiye’s national wealth.
The meeting emphasized that the foundation of sustainable exports of dried figs is laid at the production stage. It was stated that the product must be dried correctly from the orchard, selected, sorted, stored under healthy conditions and risky products must be separated at an early stage.
Sector representatives pointed out that quality cannot be ensured solely through controls at the export stage. It was also stated that the same quality awareness must be established at every link in the producer, trader, business and exporter chain…
