Turkey has started growing seven tropical fruits brought from the United States and the adaptation process of some four other fruits is ongoing. To that end, Turkey’s Agriculture and Forestry Ministry brought in a total of 11 varieties of pitaya, passion fruit, mango, longan, litchi and guava from the US. Production is mostly carried out in greenhouses.
The cultivation of mango, which is one of the tropical fruits most suitable for the taste of Turks, continues with an increasing momentum. The first harvest in commercial mango orchards that were established in 2019 started this year.
Pitaya, passion fruit and mango are offered for sale in supermarkets, chain markets and partially open-air markets in Türkiye. In addition, these fruits are also exported, albeit a little.
According to Hayrettin Uçak, the head of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association (EYMSİB), tropical fruit exports stood at $7.9 million in the first half of 2022. He added that the country’s exports leaped 225 percent between 2018 and 2021.
Source: hurriyetdailynews.com
