Turkey aims to increase blueberry production and exports
Expanding its production area in Yalova, Alova Farm plans a harvest of one thousand tons and exports to Europe starting next year.
Investments aimed at increasing blueberry production, which currently stands at around 8,000 tons in Turkey, developing the domestic market, and growing exports are gaining momentum.
Production and Consumption Figures
While Turkey ranks among the prominent countries in the world in fruit production, it has not yet reached the desired production level in blueberries, which are high-value-added products.
While total blueberry production in Turkey is around 8,000 tons, per capita consumption remains at the level of 100 grams.
Investments in Yalova
Investments aimed at increasing production in the sector, developing the domestic market, and growing exports are gaining momentum.
Levent Sarılgan, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Alova Farm, stated that they are expanding their blueberry production which they started in the Karadere region of Yalova.
Capacity Increase Targets
Sarılgan stated that they have 150,000 pots in their enterprise and that they will increase their production capacity with 50,000 new saplings arriving in November.
Planning to expand the production area to 400 decares, Sarılgan noted that they target a production of one thousand tons of blueberries.
Use of Technology
He stated that they benefit from technology such as TÜBİTAK projects in production and that with the newly acquired machine, they can sort 3 tons of fruit per hour according to its size and quality characteristics.
Export Plans and Challenges
Stating that they aim to send two trucks of blueberries per week to Spain and the Netherlands starting next year, Sarılgan also drew attention to the fact that access to finance makes new orchard investments difficult.