Mandarin harvest begins: Exports are increasing, prices are rising

In Adana, one of Turkey's leading agricultural production regions, the mandarin harvest that began in October is ongoing. Currently, the harvest of Ortanik and W. Murcott mandarin varieties is underway across the province, and the process has been accelerated due to a frost warning expected to last for 3 days.

Workers have entered the orchards to harvest the mandarins grown on 379 thousand decares of land, picking them by hand and loading them onto trucks and lorries. Ortanik mandarins, which are sent to both domestic and foreign markets, are finding buyers at 14-15 liras per kilogram at the orchard, while the W. Murcott variety is selling for 17-19 liras.

While an average yield of 1 million tons of mandarins was obtained last year, with approximately 2 tons currently being harvested per decare in the orchards, a total yield of 500 thousand tons is expected this year.

Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture President Mehmet Akın Doğan stated that the mandarins are being exported to Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine, and made the following remarks:

'Frost is expected across Adana for 3 days. Since we are nearing the end of the citrus season, farmers and traders are harvesting quickly. As there is no labor shortage, the harvest is proceeding rapidly. The fruit currently being cut is being sent primarily to Iraq, as well as Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine. The shipping cost of these mandarins to Iraq is 10 liras. However, the farm-gate price of the W. Murcott variety is 14-15 liras. There are 15 days of harvest time left for the W. Murcott.'

News Source: İHA