Mandarin prices collapse in Turkey's key production region

A nine-day strike by agricultural workers in Adana, one of Turkey’s main citrus-producing regions, has led to significant harvest delays and a sharp drop in mandarin prices. The city, which produces around 40% of Turkey’s citrus and cultivates mandarins across roughly 383,000 acres, began its harvest at the end of September. Early varieties such as okitsu, mihowase, early, and primasol had avoided frost damage earlier in the season, raising expectations for a profitable harvest, according to local media.

However, when workers halted operations, ripe mandarins were left unpicked during a critical period, causing many early varieties to deteriorate on the trees. Prices, which initially ranged from 8 to 15 lira per kilogram depending on quality, fell sharply after the strike and the simultaneous start of orange harvesting created additional pressure on the market. As excess supply built up, orchard-level mandarin prices dropped to just 3–5 lira per kilogram.

Export prospects were also affected. Adana mandarins, usually shipped to markets including Russia and several European countries, were unable to meet export standards due to damage from remaining too long on the trees, leaving most of the crop for domestic consumption.

Agricultural experts report that, despite mandarins being the only citrus crop unaffected by frost this season, delayed harvesting significantly reduced shelf life and overall quality. They estimate that 10–20% of the mandarin crop in Adana and neighbouring Hatay will remain unharvested. The extended delays, originally expected to conclude by the end of October, are still impacting producers well into mid-November, resulting in financial losses for farmers and broader economic strain on the region’s citrus sector.

source: en.haberler.com

photo: fruitsfromturkey.com