Sweet corn has always been considered the barbecue garnish par excellence: the vegetable therefore sees great demand, especially in summer. The first batches from Turkey have already been in circulation at the Vienna wholesale market since this week, Baris Sahin, stand manager of Petrik & Sahin OG and direct importer, confirms.
The demand is still rather restrained. Sahin: "We are marketing the goods in Steigen with 15x2 pieces of vacuum-packed sweet corn with colli prices around €22.50. In the next two to three weeks, we expect larger volumes, so prices will drop somewhat."
They are starting the marketing season slightly early this year, Sahin added. 
"We are sourcing from our regular partner, Finike, in the western Turkish growing region of Antalya. From my point of view, sweet corn volumes have remained about the same in recent years, with a slight increase in popularity. We simply have the advantage that there is no reasonable alternative between the end of April and June-July - around the start of the Hungarian and domestic harvest. That's when Turkish produce comes onto a virtually empty market."
First melons in incoming goods
With the first sweet corn delivery from Turkey, the season there is now slowly but surely gaining momentum. "Turkish vegetable products are already in plentiful supply. New to the incoming goods are Turkish sugar melons of the Galia and Kirkagac varieties. The latter is a purely Turkish variety and is particularly popular with our Turkish customers. The Galia melons are currently sourced from Spain only, apart from Turkey, but Italy will also join soon."
Kirkagac melons
Hail and late frosts have been known to take their toll on growers in the Mediterranean region. "There was also a short-lived cold spell in Turkey, but currently we have 20 degrees and sunshine again in our growing areas. Fortunately, however, we have been spared major crop losses like those in Spain and Italy."
For more information:
Petrik & Sahin OG
Baris Sahin
Großmarkt Wien-Inzersdorf
Laxenburgerstraße 365 C6 69-74
+43 1 6150014
office@sahinfruit.at
www.sahinfruit.at