THE GLOBAL WINDOW OF TURKISH FOOD AND AGRICULTURE The Global Window of Turkish Food and Agriculture Sector
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Press release…
Türkiye, a world leader in the production and export of seedless raisins, dried apricots and dried figs, which dominate the dried fruit sector, achieved exports worth 1.7 billion dollars in 2025 despite production losses caused by the climate crisis.
Turkish Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters Association, which accounts for 55 per cent of dried fruit exports, brought together all stakeholders in the sector at the ‘Dried Fruit Sector Annual Review Meeting’.
The opening speech of the meeting, held at the Swissotel in Izmir, was delivered by Mehmet Ali Işık, Chair of the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters’ Association.
Beginning his speech by saying, ‘We have been feeling the effects of the climate crisis acutely for the last three years,’ Işık continued, “The dried apricot harvest has fallen from 100,000 tonnes to 5,000 tonnes this season. The dried grape harvest has fallen from 320,000 tonnes to 165,000 tonnes in three years. Our dried fig harvest has fallen from 90,000 tonnes to 70,000 tonnes. Due to the effects of the climate crisis, we are experiencing yield loss problems in our products. Importers have taken measures. According to experts’ assessments, global warming will continue. Risk management is needed. We must act as a country.”
Emphasising that the negative effects of the climate crisis are being felt all over the world, Işık added, “Last month, we went to South Africa for the 65th International Seedless Dried Grape Producing Countries Conference. We saw a similar situation in South Africa. South Africa is continuing its R&D work, developing different types of raisins that can be harvested gradually over 2-3 months and producing various types of raisins that can enter the market at different times.”
