The 2025 cherry season has been particularly challenging for Turkish producers and exporters, says Sefik Can, account manager for Turkish fresh produce exporter Canlar Fruit: "Due to three consecutive frost events in April, the harvest volume dropped drastically. In some areas, production was nearly non-existent. This situation affected not only cherries but also the entire fruit category. The overall yield was significantly low, and prices remained higher than expected. What is usually a 2.5-month cherry season was reduced to just about 20 days. This also had a partial impact on fig production, and we anticipate shortages in some regions."
© Canlar İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
With the challenging season in mind, Canlar Fruit made sure to invest in new equipment and make sure everything was fully operational to maximize any opportunity, Can explains. "Our primary goal this season was to enhance product quality and operational efficiency. Despite the short and difficult cherry season, we took it as an opportunity to test our newly installed equipment and systems. Our focus was on maintaining quality under pressure, minimizing defects, and preparing our operations for scalability in the upcoming seasons."
© Canlar İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
According to Can, Canlar Fruit has made some significant investments this year to improve the operations: "In 2025, we invested in both automation and digitalization. This includes new clamshell filling and top-seal packaging machines, as well as the implementation of smart software across our packing lines. These systems were tested during this season and have proven to be successful, even though we couldn't utilize them at full capacity due to the shortened cherry window. Additionally, we're in the final phase of installing a new fig-sorting and packaging machine that will help us meet customized specs for weight and size, particularly demanded by European retailers."
© Canlar İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
These investments have made the process less prone to mistakes, while also increasing the actual packing capacity, Can states. "With smart software integration, we are able to ensure nearly zero-defect output in our final products. The combination of automation and precision allows us to increase our daily packing capacity by a minimum of 30%, while also meeting exact customer specifications with greater consistency. This significantly boosts our product reliability and traceability, which are crucial for high-end retail markets."
Thanks to these investments, Can thinks it will be easier to export its produce to high-demand markets: "Our strategic focus is shifting toward markets with higher quality demands and traceability expectations. The European retail segment remains our core market, but with the help of these technologies, we are now better positioned to expand further into Asia and the Far East, where precise grading, weight accuracy, and consistent packaging are essential. The fig machine, in particular, will allow us to offer customized product lines for different market preferences."
© Canlar İç ve Dış Ticaret Ltd. Şti.
"While the 2025 cherry season posed serious challenges due to climate conditions, it was also a critical turning point for us in terms of innovation and infrastructure. Despite not being able to operate at full capacity, the successful trial of our new systems gives us confidence for 2026. We're also currently shipping seedless watermelon, although rainy weather across Europe is affecting market activity. In response, we're evaluating further automation for this line as well. All in all, we are committed to adapting and investing in technology that aligns with the future of fresh produce logistics," Can concludes.
For more information:
Sefik Can
Canlar Fruit
Tel: +90 (242) 339 21 91
Email: [email protected]
www.canlarfruit.com
