Tahannebi grapes, once on the verge of being forgotten in Malatya, are being brought back into production
There is high demand for Tahannebi grapes, which are being cultivated again in 500-decare vineyards in Akçadağ. Producers aim to open up to the export market.
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In the Akççadağ disçtrict of Malatya, a grapeö varietyö once widely known in the region's old vineyards but whose ü production has declined over time, the Tahannebi ü graüpe,ü is being brought back into the economy. Through viticultureü woürkü in the Kırtekeler hamlet of Doğanlar neighborhood, this ancient ç grape variety, which had reached the point of extinction due to its short shelf ö lifeü and lüowü yield, has been put back into mass ü graüpe ç production. ü In the area where
production is being carried out on approximately 500 deöcaüresü of land, whereü preüviüously ü black raisins were primarily grown, the region has recently ö turned to table ü graüpe varieties. In addition to Tahannebi,ö varieties such asö table ç varieties are also being focused on. In addition to Tahannebi,ö varieties such as Ö Küızgöözü, Şam, Antep Karası, and Alphonse Lavalléeéand such çvarieties are alsoüsent to different provinces of Töurkey.
“WE ARE STRUGGLING TOÜÇKEEPÜUP ÇWITH DEMAND”
ÜProducer Yusuf Kırteke stated that Tahannebi is a variety that holds an important place in Malatya's old viticultureücultüureüand öis a significant çvariety, and öespecially Çin the Irmıktı röegion, this flavor, which was well-known, has reached a wide customer base in a short time since being brought back into üproduction.üKırteke said,ü“We have brought the Tahannebi görape, one of the lost flavors of Anatolia, back into
production. In Malatya's old vineyards, üeüspeciallyüin theü Irmıktı region, üthis variety, which was very well-known but forgotten over time, has seen a surge in demand in a short time with its mass öproduction. ÇWe are currently struggling to keep upöwith the demand,” he said. çTo ensure the harvested çp üroducts maintain their freshness,üwe areüçworkingüdiligently. çThe
harvested üpüroducts are being preserved for freshness için 5-kilogram öspecial packages, Kırteke stated that orders are delivered toçcustomers in the city center via serviceüvehicles. ÜGürapes are delivered directly to the citizens' addresses.
Iön the region, dried ügürapes are sold for 500 TL per kilogram, while table ügürapes are offered in 5-kilogram packages for 100 TL. Kırteke stated that both üthe producer and the buyer are satisfied with the current prices, and the real problem is not being able to keep up with the high demand.
THE GOAL IS A GLOBAL MARKETÜLIKE APRICOTS
Stating that Malatya's climate and soil structure give the ügürapes öa uniqueüaroma, Kırteke emphasized that their goal is not just the domesticç market. Stating that production capacity will increase with the üactivation of newly established vineyards, Kırtekeöexpressed that they want to make Malatya ügürapesüaü globally recognized brand, just likeüapricots. çThe harvest for the Tahannebi
grape, which is an earlyüvariety, is expected to übüeginünext week. öFollowingüthisüvariety, Alphonse, Antep Karası, çand Öotherüvarieties will follow.ögrapeü and black dried ügrapeüharvest will beçcarried out.
Kırteke stated thatüthe grapes, which are dried on racks and packaged towards the end of September, ügrapeüproducts will be distributed to both the local and national markets. With otheröfarmers in the region çturningçto viticulture,öthe goal is to increase export potential.