The Bursa Black fig, which is exported all over the world, has increased in export price to €2.45 a kilo. The harvest began on 18 August and the fig started to be exported on 22 August. Due to unfortunate weather conditions and climate problems, producers feared a 40% loss in yield. Yet, the export price started at €1.50 and quickly increased to €2.45, delighting producers.
Bursa figs clean, disease free
Bursa’s Osmangazi Chamber of Agriculture chairman Hakan Ekin reported that studies conducted by the Bursa Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Aydin Erbeyli Fig Research Institute, found the Bursa figs to be free of disease.
Ekim claims that former statements concerning fungal disease in the figs were incorrect, he states: “This untruth was speculation intended to negatively affect prices. Our goal at the Osmangazi Chamber of Agriculture is to protect both our producers and products. I oversee 150 acres of orchards. I am always with the farmers. I did not leave the orchards for a month. Even now I’m picking figs to be sent for samples. We work closely with the Bursa Provincial Directorate and district directorates. We solve all the problems that we encounter together. We are also working with Aydin Erbeyli Fig Research Institute. Currently the Bursa figs are clean and disease free. There is no question of fungal diseases or any other type of disease at present. The price has increased to €2.45. We are seeing high demand in exports.”
Last year $43 million in currency exchange
According to the Uludag Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Export Union, in 2014 18,000 tons of fig exports were made equating to $43 million dollars. Most exports were for England, Germany, France, Russia and Holland.
