THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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ORANGES PURCHASED FOR 5 TL IN THE GARDEN…
In the Eastern Mediterranean region, where Türkiye’s major production centres are located, the orange harvest started in December. Half of the approximately 1 million 300 thousand tonnes of oranges produced throughout the country are grown in orchards in Hatay, Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye and Kahramanmaraş provinces.
As in other provinces, different types of oranges grown in tens of decares of orchards in Mersin are sent to the domestic and foreign markets, finding buyers around 5 TL in the garden. At the Alata Horticulture Research Institute, affiliated to the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Erdemli district of Mersin province, 8 different types of oranges are produced in an area of approximately 200 decares and R&D studies are carried out.
650 THOUSAND TONNES PRODUCED IN THE EAST MEDITERRANEAN REGION…
Alata Horticultural Research Institute Director Dr. Mustafa Ünlü pointed out that they are an organisation that carries out R&D in the field of horticultural crops: “We mainly carry out R&D studies in citrus fruits by focusing on characteristics such as early, late, seedlessness, fruit flesh colour, etc.,” Dr. Ünlü says.
Stating that around 1 million 300 thousand tonnes of oranges are produced throughout the country, Dr. Ünlü explains, “In the Eastern Mediterranean region, which includes Hatay, Adana, Mersin, Osmaniye and Kahramanmaraş, around 650 thousand tonnes are produced. As we generally have local varieties, production is also made with varieties brought from abroad in the past years. Mainly 10, 11 table varieties are produced. Harvesting starts in December and continues until mid-May.”
EIGHT VARIETIES PRODUCED IN THE INSTITUTE…
Indicating that there are approximately 200 decares of orange orchard in the institute, Dr. Ünlü notes, “We produce 8 varieties here. We start harvesting in December and continue to harvest Valencia orange, which is late, until mid-May. Approximately 20 per cent of the oranges produced in our country are exported and the rest are consumed in the domestic market.”
Underlining that vitamin C is very necessary in the winter season, Dr. Ünlü adds, ” Citrus fruits are consumed with pleasure in the domestic market since they have the highest content in terms of vitamin C. This year, our yield is high as in other citrus fruits.”
