The total cherry production forecast in Turkey in Marketing Year (MY) 2022/23 is 980,000 tons (MT), which is 14 percent more than MY 2021/2022, due to the favorable weather conditions and improved yields this year. The peach and nectarine production forecast for MY 2022/23 is 940,000 around six percent more than MY 2021/22, again due to no frost damage and enough rainfall for this year's crop. Stone fruit exports are forecast to increase in parallel with the higher production in MY 2022/23.
Turkey especially aims to increase its exports of fresh sweet cherries to South Korea through technical negotiations. This report covers cherries, peaches and nectarines.
Fresh peaches and nectarines
Farmers have been replacing their older varieties of peach and nectarine trees with higher yield varieties. Also, modern high-density orchards have been established using new cultivars, rootstocks, training systems, and growing techniques. Using modern technologies and changing to higher yielding trees has caused an increase in the quality and production of peaches over the years even while planting the same amount of land.
Over the last 10 years, the planted area of peaches stayed at a similar level of 39,000 ha whereas the planted area of nectarines increased by more than 100 percent to 10,967 ha. The number of nectarine orchards is increasing in Turkey to meet changing consumer preferences for nectarines in both domestic and foreign markets. Most of the peach varieties planted in Turkey are Early Amber, Spring Crest, May Crest, Red Haven and Early Red.
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Source: apps.fas.usda.gov