The Posof apple from Ardahan province (north-eastern Turkey) is one of a kind: It is red in both skin and flesh and it is very nutritious. Because the apple is only grown in Ardahan, local farmers want a geographical indication (GI) for the fruit. They say this would encourage more farmers to grow the Posof.
Ardahan Trade and Industry Chamber (ATSO) Chairman Çetin Demirci said that they have prepared the necessary documents for the application process. They will soon be submitted to the Turkish Patent and Brand Institution (TURKPATENT).
"We are trying to raise awareness about this apple among farmers," Demirci said. He added that people are migrating from the district. He hopes that if the GI is awarded, people will return.
Professor Şeref Kılıç, from the Faculty of Engineering of Ardahan University, said the apple grows only in Posof, but that production is slowly decreasing. "The university is providing technical support for the registration process," he said.
Dailysabah.com reported that professor Gülsün Akdemir Evrendilek from the same faculty said the apple is not just important for the region's economy, it is also beneficial for human health and it has a very high nutritional value.
