Euro 2024 in Germany boosts demand for Turkish watermelons

This 17th edition of the European Football Championship, or Euro 2024, is taking place in Germany until 14 July and will bring together 24 national teams. Germany expects around 2.7 million people to attend the matches in the stadiums and around 12 million people to attend the matches in the fan zones. 

 

Turkey is taking part in Euro 2024, and according to the Turkish media, watermelon producers in the Adana region are experiencing strong demand from European markets, especially Germany.

 

The coincidence of Euro 2024 and the Adana watermelon season is a boon for Turkish producers. Mehmet Akın Doğan, president of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture in Adana, said that a yield of 8 to 9 tonnes of watermelons per decare (1,000 m2) is expected, giving a total production of around 700,000 tonnes.

 

In 2023, according to the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the Adana region accounted for 17.6% of total watermelon production in Turkey, with 554,000 tonnes, and was the country's leading watermelon-producing region.