In Antalya's Gazipasa district, the early cherry harvest has started. After the early cherries, producers will start to harvest the Napoleon variety that is their biggest export crop.
Producers grow cherries mainly in the Cile, Doganci and Gokcesaray neighborhoods and they cost 20 to 30 Turkish Lira (3 to 4,6 Euro) per kilo.
The harvest usually takes place in mid-April, however due to the unusual weather it started in mid-May this year, said producer Ahmet Ozdemir. Stating that the cherries are better this year compared to last, he continued: "Even though we started the harvest rather late, we collected high quality cherries. Producers are content with the harvest. The quality of the product is good, the yield is high"
Ozdemir said that they expect 300 tons of cherries and that they sell them for 20 to 30 Turkish Liras per kilo depending on the quality.
Nimet Sonmez, another cherry producer who has been in the business for 10 years, confirmed the high quality of cherries in the first harvest: "The quality of cherries is very good, the yield is high. We continue to harvest in a good mood."
Source: Dunya