The citrus fruit harvest has started in the East Black Sea region where citrus fruits are grown as alternative products in an area where hazelnuts are the main product for many growers. Other alternative products grown in the region are kiwi, strawberry and walnut.
Persembe town in Ordu, a city located in northern Turkey, is the main area in the city for citrus fruit production and the harvest has just started in the town. Annually 70 tons of mandarins, 50 tons of oranges and 20 tons of lemon are grown in the town. The products are all sold in domestic markets.
The current price point for mandarins from Persembe is around 0.60 USD per kg and the mandarins from the area are well-known for their taste and thin skin.
Citrus fruit production has also been increasing consistently in the area and the production figures are projected to be much higher in the near future. Growers have been able to find buyers for their products very easily and have been delighted with this alternative source of income. Many growers have declared their intention to increase their production areas and they have been working with local chambers of agriculture to achieve these goals.
Source: Haberturk
