Banana harvest season begins, priced at 16-18 TL in orchards
As the intensive harvest season begins in Mersin, where more than half of Turkey's banana demand is met, producers state that bananas harvested at 16-18 TL in the orchards are sold in the market for around 30 TL. They suggest consuming domestic bananas instead of imports, which can reach prices up to 80 TL.
Mersin, a city that ranks high in Turkey's fresh vegetable and fruit production, cultivates various products throughout the year, both in open fields and under cover. Bananas, particularly produced intensively in Anamur, Bozyazı, Silifke, and Erdemli, draw attention. The city, where one out of every two bananas consumed nationwide is produced, enters an intensive period, especially under cover. It was reported that the first-quality price of domestic bananas in the orchard is 16-18 TL. Producers emphasize the increase in import prices up to 80 TL and encourage the preference for domestic bananas sold between 26 and 30 TL in supermarkets.
"Support farmers by consuming domestic bananas"
Yafes Akça, the processing plant supervisor in Limonlu Village of Erdemli district, pointed out that there are banana greenhouses in an area of approximately 2 thousand acres. He said, 'The season has opened, and the harvest intensity has begun. We harvest the bananas ripening under cover, comb them, clean, wash, pack, and send them. We deliver them to every part of Turkey, from Istanbul to Van, Gaziantep to Trabzon. Domestic bananas are very nice in terms of taste and aroma. Therefore, let's support our farmers by consuming domestic bananas and contribute to our economy.'
Ahmet Yıldırım, another producer, stated, 'We have started the harvest, bring our products to the processing facility, clean and package them, and send them to every part of Turkey. It is progressing smoothly at the moment. Our domestic bananas are nicer than the imported ones, and they are more affordable in terms of price. Even if the price were lower, I personally would not prefer imported bananas. We recommend domestic bananas to our citizens. Let them support the farmers.'
