Turkey’s apple, pear and grape harvest hit hard as frost slashes 2025/26 output

Turkey’s fresh deciduous fruit sector is facing a significantly tighter supply situation in the 2025/26 marketing year after a combination of severe spring frosts, drought and hail cut production across key crops, according to the latest USDA report. The downturn is expected to sharply reduce export volumes and push domestic prices higher.

Apples

Commercial apple production in 2025/26 is forecast at 1.8 million metric tons, a dramatic 60 percent decline from the prior year and the lowest output in five years. Severe frost impacted 36 provinces, with some major producing regions seeing losses of up to 90 percent.

With supplies constrained, apple exports are projected to fall about 70 percent to around 66,600 tonnes. While Turkey’s top overseas markets have historically included India, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, current production shortfalls are expected to make it difficult for exporters to meet demand. In the year ending June 2025, shipments to India alone reached around 86,400 tonnes, with Iraq at 34,000 tonnes and Saudi Arabia at 22,500 tonnes.

Domestic apple prices have risen sharply, with inflation and limited supply pushing prices well above international levels.

Pears

Pear production is also forecast to drop sharply, with commercial output expected around 441,000 tonnes, a 30 percent fall from the previous season’s 630,000 tonnes. This decline was driven largely by the same frosts that hit other deciduous crops, though some areas such as Bursa were less affected.

Turkey is projecting pear exports of about 46,300 tonnes, down 30 percent from 2024/25. In recent seasons, pear shipments have been dominated by destinations such as Iraq and Russia. In 2024/25 (year ending June), total pear exports reached 66,170 tonnes, with Iraq accounting for nearly 18,800 tonnes and Russia around 15,450 tonnes.

Retail pear prices also moved higher in late 2025 as shrinking supplies and inflationary pressures played out in domestic markets.

Table grapes

Table grape production is forecast at roughly 1.3 million tonnes in 2025/26, about 25 percent lower than the prior season. The decrease follows frost damage in spring 2025 and continues a pattern of below-average yields.

Exports of table grapes are expected to be around 91,400 tonnes, about 20 percent below 2024/25’s reported volumes of about 114,000 tonnes. Trade flows remain concentrated in nearby markets, particularly Russia, followed by Ukraine and Romania.

Trade context and prices

Despite tightening export supply, Turkey’s fresh deciduous fruit imports remain negligible due to high tariffs — 60.3 percent on fresh apples and pears and 54.9 percent on table grapes — which limit competitiveness from overseas suppliers.

As of November 2025, retail prices for table grapes were around 90 Turkish Lira (approx. $2.9) per kilogram, reflecting both production declines and inflation.

Read the full report.

source: fas.usda.gov

photo: fas.usda.gov