The Turkish province of Bartın is on its way to becoming an important player when it comes to the cultivation of organic aronia berries, says Cengiz Bostanci, an agricultural engineer who works in the Bartın province: "In an era of surging global interest in functional foods and organic agriculture, the province of Bartın in Türkiye is establishing a dominant position in the global aronia market. Through a strategic combination of state support, industrial investment, and cooperative movements, Bartın is not just building a production center, it's engineering one of the world's purest aronia ecosystems. The journey of aronia cultivation in Bartın began in 2018 as part of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Plant Production Development Project, conducted in collaboration with the Yalova Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute."
© Cengiz Bostanci
In the past few years, the growth of the acreage has been sped up, with thousands of saplings being planted in 2024, Bostanic explains. "The momentum for this project accelerated in 2024, through the shared vision of the Bartın Special Provincial Administration and the Bartın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. Under the Project for Developing Aronia Cultivation, marginal lands were revitalized for the economy, while the Provincial Directorate provided technical guidance for the establishment of initial orchards. In 2024 alone, nearly 10,000 saplings were planted during the spring and autumn periods, creating a production belt of approximately five hectares."
Bostanci feels that the Bartın province's dedication to this fruit puts it ahead of other growing areas in the world: "What sets us apart on the global stage is our status as the only center in Türkiye and the world dedicated exclusively to organic aronia cultivation. Under the strict supervision and incentives provided by the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the cultivation process is entirely free of chemical inputs. This commitment places our Aronia at the pinnacle of the international clean food market."
© Cengiz Bostanci
Several cooperations have made an effort to unite small-scale farmers to give them access to training and assistance, Bostanci states. "The S.S. Bartın Organic Women Entrepreneurs Management and Production Cooperative, established with the active guidance and contributions of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, has united small-scale farmers under a single professional umbrella. This cooperative model allows farmers to easily access technical training while maintaining significant market leverage, serving as a global blueprint for sustainable rural development."
There was even an entire festival surrounding the aronia berry, Bostanci explains: "By 2026, the project reached its 'Harvest of Success'. In Amasra, the Organic Aronia Harvest Festival, led by Governor Dr. Nurtaç Arslan, showcased the tangible results of the "Organic Aronia for Health" project. The event featured exemplary orchards from dedicated growers, like Murat Önel, who was honored by the Bartın Associations Federation (BARFED) for his perseverance in organic farming."
© Cengiz Bostanci
"Bartın's vision extends far beyond fresh fruit sales. Private investors, such as the Fortech Group, have established modern orchards that, alongside planned industrial processing facilities, will transform Bartın into a global supplier. This clustering model, supported by the Provincial Directorate, will facilitate the production of aronia juice, powders, and pharmaceutical raw materials," Bostanci concludes.
For more information:
Cengiz Bostanci
Bartın Türkiye
Tel: +90 507 430 0840
