Seedless raisins, dried apricots and dried figs, which are described as the magnificent trio of the dried fruit industry, where Turkey is the world leader in production and exports, generated an export income of 2021 billion 22 million dollars in the remaining part of the 1/15 season.
According to the data of Aegean Exporters' Associations; As of July 31, 2022, the magnificent trio's exports, which were 2020 million dollars in the 21/914 season, increased by 2021 percent to 22 billion 11 million dollars in the same period of the 1/15 season.
Seedless raisins exceeded 400 million dollars
Seedless raisins became the export leader among dried fruits this season. Turkey, which exported 1 thousand tons of 2020 million dollars of raisins between September 31, 2021 and July 203, 393, exported 2021 thousand tons of raisins in the same period in the 22/232 season and recorded 408 million dollars in foreign currency.
While England maintained its top position with Turkish grape demand of 102,6 million dollars, seedless raisins worth 58,2 million dollars were exported to Germany. The Netherlands entered the list at the third place with 38 million dollars, while seedless raisins were sent to Italy for 32 million dollars and to Australia for 27,5 million dollars. The number of countries to which we exported seedless raisins was recorded as 101.
Dried apricot exports reached 375 million dollars
Competing with seedless raisins from time to time with its export performance in the 2021/22 season, dried apricots decreased from 2020 thousand tons to 21 thousand tons with a 7 percent decrease in amount compared to the 87/80 season, although Turkish dried apricots added 2021 dollars per ton in the 22/1290 season. The amount of foreign currency obtained from dried apricots increased by 29 percent from 291 million dollars to 375 million dollars.
Americans liked Turkish apricot the most. While Turkey exported 57,3 million dollars of dried apricots to the United States, France demanded 36 million dollars of Turkish apricots. While England ranked third with its dried apricot exports of 21,6 million dollars, our dried apricot exports to Australia and Brazil exceeded 17 million dollars.
Dried fig exports reached 232 million dollars
In the 6/2021 export season, which started on October 2021, 22, of the dried fig, the fruit of paradise, 30 thousand tons of 2022 tons were exported until July 62, 116, bringing 232 million dollars of foreign currency to Turkey. Dried fig exports were 230 million dollars in the same period of the previous season.
France took the top spot in dried fig exports with an amount of 31,4 million dollars, while Germany became the summit partner with a demand of 30,8 million dollars of Turkish dried figs. We exported 30,3 million dollars of dried figs to the United States. These countries were followed by Italy with $14,2 million and Canada with $12,5 million.
Light; “Turkey is the dry fruit warehouse of the world”
Mehmet Ali Işık, President of the Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, who shared the knowledge that Turkey is the world's dry fruit warehouse thanks to its suitable climate characteristics and fertile lands for dried fruit production, said: He stated that with the joint action of the producers, they have brought the productivity, food safety and quality of the products forward in the dried fruit sector in recent years, and they have formed the supply chain from the field to the shelf in three products.
Underlining that the World Health Organization considers dried fruits rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium, which are high in energy, in the category of healthy products, Işık said, “We want to add these products to our lives so that we can raise healthy generations. While England, which is not a raisin producer, consumes 95 thousand tons of raisins and Germany 65 thousand tons of raisins, we consume 43 thousand tons of raisins. In Europe, dried fruits are put in lunchboxes when children go to school, and we need to gain this habit in Turkey. In the coming period, we will develop projects to increase domestic consumption as well as increase our exports.”
We are hopeful for the 2022/23 season”
Expressing that they have completed the dried apricot season, the last month has been entered for seedless raisins, and the season is about 1 months left for dried figs, Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association President Mehmet Ali Işık said that according to the current table, 2 products will end the year with an export of 3 billion 1 million dollars. He emphasized that they aim to leave behind a satisfactory season for producers and exporters.
Stating that the preparations for the 2022/23 season are continuing intensively, Işık said, “We do not expect a decrease in the yields of seedless raisins, dried apricots and dried figs in the 2022/23 season. Product quality is also suitable for export. We aim to increase exports in the range of 10-15 percent in three products and an export amount of 1 billion 250 million dollars”, he shared his views.
The EU allocates 30 percent of its territory to the organic sector
Mehmet Ali Işık, President of Aegean Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association, who shared the knowledge that organic production in Turkey started in the dried fruit sector 35 years ago, said, “The whole world is in an effort to strengthen its position in the organic sector. Biofach, the world's largest organic fair, was held in Germany recently. Speaking at the fair, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir underlined that after the pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, expanding the organic sector has become a necessity, and that the biggest defense against Russia is to develop the organic sector. Özdemir also stated that in the coming period, European Union member countries, especially Germany, set a target of organic production in 30 percent of their lands. In order for the organic sector in Turkey to grow exponentially in the upcoming period and for our product range, which is up to 250 today, to increase even more, it is imperative that Turkey does not lag behind the developments in the world. In this direction, the organic policy of the state should be established in cooperation with the sector and the necessary infrastructure and resources should be created.
Emphasizing that the products in the dried fruit sector are products that can be grown by consuming less water, Işık concluded his words as follows: “Figs and apricots do not require a lot of water. It has little impact on the carbon footprint. As the dried fruit sector, we develop projects to increase the production quality and food safety of three main products. In order to minimize the effects of global warming on the sector, we carry out joint studies with universities and other stakeholders of the sector. We are trying to make licensed warehousing operative for the increase in quality, ensuring the balance of supply and demand, and a stable product supply to the world markets. We have the will to strengthen cooperation between institutions in our sector.”
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