THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
If we extend the season of crop variety and export products, new markets will open…
Speaking about the work carried out by the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, in terms of ensuring sustainable food supply, Board Member Cengiz Balık said, “Extending the season of product variety and export products is a very important issue for the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. For example, I think that when we can increase the cherry season, which is 1.5-2 months in our country, to 3 months, many new markets can be opened for our members. For this, Research Institutes have a great job in researching export-based varieties. The Aegean Agricultural Research Institute (ETAE) has recently started an early cherry breeding study and we are closely following and supporting this project.”
Both farmer and consumer awareness should be raised…
Cengiz Balık underlined the need for studies that will support environmental sustainability such as waste management, recycling and reuse of wastes and raise awareness of both the farmer and the consumer in this sense.
“Unfortunately, we experience losses of up to 30-35% during harvest in many of our products. Producers should be informed about each stage and harvest. Awareness on this issue has recently occurred, which is a gratifying development. Calls for projects aimed at preventing waste and losses started to increase and the interest and awareness of institutions and organizations increased visibly. We, as the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, have projects that we support in this field. It is important to take technology with us in this regard, but the main thing is education and awareness raising,” Cengiz Balık noted.
‘We Know The Pesticides We Use’ project for Food Safety…
Explaining that the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association will implement the project “We Know the Pesticides We Use” in 2021 to draw attention to “Food Safety”, Cengiz Balık concluded his words as follows:
“The project is aimed at increasing the quality of ‘seedless table grapes, cherries, pomegranates, peaches, tangerines, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and grape leaf’, where the export volume is intense. These crops will be analyzed in accredited laboratories by collecting a certain number of samples from regions where the production takes place intensively. According to these results, besides our biggest market, the European Union and Russia, success and healthy food supply will be achieved in providing the desired MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) values for the health of our 84 million citizens and both our producers and exporters will become more conscious.”
