The first cherry harvest in Şehzadeler district, which is shown as the earliest place where cherry is grown, was held in Sancaklıbozköy District in previous years, but this year it was held in Aşağı Çobanisa District.
Producer Yavuz Tun, harvesting “Cristobalina” type cherries in his garden, brought 120 kilograms of product to the purchasing center.
A ceremony was held for the first product of the year. Şehzadeler District Governor Cemal Hüsnü Çaykara, Şehzadeler Deputy Mayor Bilal Demir, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Metin Öztürk and Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association President Hayrettin Uçar also attended the ceremony.
Cherries were bought by trader Hüseyin Çimen at an auction for 800 lira per kilogram.
Producer Yavuz Tun said that he is proud to have grown the first product of the season. Hüseyin Çimen stated that he would send the product to Istanbul and Ankara.
Provincial Director of Agriculture Öztürk stated that Manisa is an important cherry production center in Turkey with its early characteristics, and said, “The most important feature of our city is that it produces the first cherry in Turkey and the northern hemisphere. In terms of production, it ranks fourth with 48,832 tons. “We are in the second place in terms of area. Manisa will go even higher in terms of production in the coming years,” he said.
Noting that Turkey ranks first in the world in cherry production, Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association Chairman Hayrettin Plan said, “Last year, we realized an export of 157 million dollars against 57 thousand tons due to the loss in yield. Our target this year is 80 thousand tons of cherries of 200 million dollars. export,” he said.
