Harvest of the fruit, which has a geographical indication registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office under the name “Bursa black fig” and ripens early due to air temperatures above seasonal norms, started on August 6, and export started after August 8.
This year, a yield of 30 thousand tons is expected for Bursa black, which is sent to Middle Eastern countries, Russia, Dubai and Hong Kong, as well as Europe.
Uludağ Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association (UYMSİB) President Senih Yazgan told AA correspondent that the cutting and export of Bursa black figs normally starts in the third week of August, but this year these dates were pushed back two weeks due to temperatures being above seasonal norms.
Stating that the quality and yield of black figs are high but the fruit ripens early, Yazgan said, “Right now, the entire European population is either on vacation or at the Olympics. So if you consider that they will not consume figs in a place where they are not at home, the fig market is a bit problematic as of this year. In fact, the demand is coming slowly in that sense. Now, the producer also says ‘buy’ a fig that has ripened on the branch. It is not possible for an exporter to achieve this in a place where there is no demand.”
Yazgan explained that last year the fig harvest was low due to frost, but this year the yield met expectations.
Referring to his expectations in exports, Yazgan said, “My estimate is to reach a capacity with an export potential of 13-14 thousand tons as of this year. This figure will please both the producer and the exporter and will also reveal the dominant influence of the country in the markets.”
“WE ARE TRYING TO SELL TO THE CHINESE GEOGRAPHIC”
Senih Yazgan reported that they heard that some exporters were trying to sell Bursa black to Singapore and Malaysia.
Stating that they are turning to eastern markets rather than western ones, Yazgan continued as follows:
“There are countries with very high economies. Quarantine protocols need to be signed regarding this. The necessary projects regarding the quarantine of Bursa black have been completed and forwarded to our ministry. It has recently started to go to Scandinavian countries, such as Germany, Austria, England, Belgium, to a limited extent. We have captured a good market, but expanding our market is one of the basic duties of exporters. We are trying to sell the product to the Chinese geography. We hosted a delegation of 8 people with the political local administrators of a region where figs are grown in China. Figs are in the form of bushes there. Figs that do not have these physical characteristics are very small, and do not have a long market and shelf life. When they came under the Bursa black fig tree and saw it looking up from under the leaves, the producer group heads in the local administrations there were surprised. They said, ‘You come here too. Let us create the necessary pressure for this product to enter the Chinese market. It is really a very valuable product.’ Of course, our targets are the Far East. While opening the Far East, it is not possible for us to do this alone. We also need to be supported by transportation that can shorten the travel time. We have great expectations from Turkish Airlines in this regard. If they support us in terms of price in cargo transportation of this product to the Far East, we will have performed a very meaningful duty.”
Yazgan stated that black figs are also grown in Aydın, but they do not have the characteristics of the product in Bursa.
Stating that Bursa black has a thick shell and a long shelf life, Yazgan added that demand for the product will increase with the end of the school holiday period in Europe and the end of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
