In Ordu, located in the Black Sea region, growers began to cultivate kiwifruit as an alternative to hazelnuts. Ordu Kiwifruit Growers Association chairman, Yusuf Uzunlar stated, “We have set the price at €0.57 for 90 gram kiwifruits.”
Uzunlar explains that in the Central and Eastern Black Sea regions very little remains of the harvest, before the harvest is collected the price is determined at a meeting and he notes that compared to last year the price has dropped.
Uzunlar, “The kiwifruit prices for 2015 have been announced. Accordingly, for 2015 kiwifruit weighing 90 grams and above will cost €0.57, between 70-90 grams €0.45, 50-70 grams €0.13. Last year, because of frost damage prices were set at €0.89 for 90 grams. This fell to €0.57 because of higher yields this year. Similarly, last year, 70-90 gram kiwifruits cost €0.54, 50-70 grams cost €0.16.”
He added that this season more than 6,500 tons of yield is expected in Ordu.
Yalova Kiwifruit Growers Association chairman Mustafa Tunali made a statement in which he explained that kiwifruit have been grown across the region for 26 years and have become an important source of income.
In Turkey this year 32,000 tons of kiwifruit yield is expected, and Tunali predicts that 20,000 tons of this will be provided by Yalova, which is located in northwestern Turkey on the Sea of Marmara.
“In the month of May a large proportion of kiwi tree branches were broken by a storm. Due to this, we expect a 5,000 ton decrease in the previously expected 25,000 tons of yield. Now the demand for the product is strong. Most of the kiwifruit in Yalova have already been sold still on the branches. In the orchards they are sold for €0.80-83 a kilo.” Tunali states that in the cultivation period the trees were well irrigated which has contributed to good yields.
He added, “On the markets the average kiwifruit weighs between 90-110 grams, whereas Yalova kiwifruits are between 130-150 grams.”
