At the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Antalya, the “Necessary Phytosanitary Requirements for the Export of Turkish Cherries to China Protocol” was signed, which had pleased growers in Sultandagi in Afyonkarahisar especially, as they cover around 30% of Turkey’s cherry exports.
Cherry producers operating in Sultandagi, produce around 10% of the cherries in Turkey. They believe that the protocol signed with China will increase the economical value of the cherry.
Chairman of the Sultandagi Cherry Cooperative and mayor of the region, Osman Acar made a statement to an Anadolu Agency reporter, in which he explains that they worked for many years to get the Sultandagi cherries to the place they deserve.
Acar stated that under the scope of the project, the cooperative created a brand for the cherries, “We registered the Sultandagi cherries. We received all of the certifications. We branded the Sultandagi cherries as ‘Tadiki’.”
The cooperative sent high quality cherries to the US and Chinese embassies several times, Acar explains:
“Later, vice chairman of the Turkish Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Freelance Professionals and Managers Association (TOSYOV) Ihsan Bashir, went to China to promote the cherries. We visited Shanghai, Quanzhou, Fujian, Xi'an and the president of the chamber of commerce in Beijing and the state director in Guangzhou. We explained how special and delicious the cherries are. If China buys our cherries, it will increase production and give our product the merit it deserves.”
“They were cutting the cherry trees down”
Explaining how pleasing the signing of the protocol has been, Acar added:
“We want our product to go to China. Being a cooperative we’re ready for this. We’ve made our calculations. For our part we’re ready to do whatever it takes. Earlier citizens were cutting down cherry trees. When asked why, they responded ‘they don’t make money’. There was no one controlling it, now we’ve prevented this. There are 27,000 decares of land in the region, we can produce more cherries. Now people are no longer cutting down the trees. Having such a project in the region means cherry production will increase. Hearing about this agreement, farmers will immediately plant seedlings.”
Acar explained that workshops on cherry exports were organised, “Our producers sell first caliber cherries of 26 millimetres and above, from €1.00. Prices for 25 mm, can fall to €0.33. First caliber is €1, but second caliber €0.95. If exports to China start we will be able to achieve this. This will contribute a lot to Turkey’s economy.”
According to Acar, the infrastructure is ready to begin sending cherries to China in the coming year:
“Our goal is to make Sultandagi the base for cherry exports. We will be able to provide the Chinese with cherries whenever they want them. We produce 50-60,000 tons of cherries in Sultandagi. When the gates open for exports, we will be able to double yields in the next 3-5 years, by means of the knowledge and skills of our hardworking farmers. Exports to China will give our cherries the recognition they deserve.”
