The Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association (EYMSIB) has spent a successful year in 2018; with exports to 180 countries and a total revenue of 832 million USD (735 million Euro). The association organized a meeting for Kemalpasa (Izmir's district) cherries producers and exporters.
Around 400 producers and exporters participated in the meeting to talk about Kemalpasa cherries.
Producers and exporters work together
Hayrettin Ucak, the president of Aegean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Association (EYMSIB) said: "Cherries are very important for us. For high-quality cherry production we will continue to work together with all our stakeholders and we will try to inform our producers and expand markets. Our producers and exporters will work together. Izmir's Kemalpasa district is the leading producer of cherries in Turkey and third in the world. In 2018, the export revenue from cherries totaled 41 million USD (36 million Euro). We are now stronger with our stakeholders and we aim to increase this up to 100 million USD."
"New varieties need to be introduced"
Muharrem Selcuk, head of Agriculture and Forestry Ministry's Food Control Department stated that new distant markets can be added on top of the current markets such as Russia and Germany.
Selcuk said that they are already in touch with South Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan. However, he emphasized that these markets need a different variety and quality and added: "We need to meet the global demand for cherries. In case farmers loose money for 3 to 4 years, this should be compensated. We will be in touch with authorities and talk about the issues related to changing variety and compensation."
During the meeting, stakeholders also discussed about pesticides. Agricultural engineer Dr. Mehmet Fatih Tolga warned against pesticides to deal with fruit flies. He emphasized that pesticide application should not be the first solution to deal with fruit flies (Drosophila suzukii).
Source: Gidahatti