Fresh fruit and vegetable exports from Turkey exceeded $155 million in July, while the share of exporters in the Mediterranean region in total revenues was $54.4 million. Last month, the country delivered 179,400 tons of produce to foreign markets, said Ferhat Gürbüz, the head of the Mediterranean Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Exporters’ Association (AKİB).
Gürbüz noted that the main markets for local growers are the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the European Union and Middle Eastern countries. Exports to Russia grew by 53 percent to $83.1 million, while exports to Germany amounted to $28.2 million, Gürbüz said. Iraq was the third largest importer of Turkish fresh fruit and vegetables, buying $4.3 million worth of produce.
He also noted that exports to Israel rocketed by 148 percent on an annual basis to $2.6 million and that the produce shipments to Austria climbed 143 percent to $1.9 million. Exports to Saudi Arabia also registered a 100 percent increase to reach $1.1 million.
In July, the best-selling export produce were peaches, cherries and apricot. Peach exports rose 53 percent to bring $41 million in revenues, while mushroom exports soared nearly 2,900 percent to $1.6 million. Pears and apricot exports also increased by 106 percent and 82 percent to $1.2 million and $26 million, respectively.
Source: hurriyetdailynews.com