In marketing year (MY) 2018/19, Turkey’s total apple crop is expected to increase to three million metric tons (MMT) and the pear crop to 450,000 MT due to favorable weather conditions during winter and flowering. The Turkey table grape production forecast for MY 2018/19 is 1,900,000 MT, down ten percent from last year due to heavy rains during August in some parts of Manisa in the Aegean Region. Due to strong demand from neighboring countries, Turkey’s fresh deciduous fruit exports are Increasing.
Apples
Apples have traditionally been the most economically significant deciduous fruit crop for Turkey, followed by table grapes and pears. Apple production in MY 2017/18 decreased five percent over the previous season to 2,750,000 metric tons (MT) due to some hail damage during June, despite a hopeful spring period during flowering.
Pears
For MY 2018/19, Post forecasts pear production will increase to 450,000 MT due to good weather during flowering. Despite the area remain same, farmers have gradually been replacing old trees with better varieties. Pear production in MY 2017/18 decreased to 420,000 metric tons (MT) (from 40,000 MT in MY 2016/17) as there was some hail damage during June. Orchard conditions were favourable following mild winter and flowering was good.
Many different varieties of pears are grown in Turkey and are harvested throughout the year. Almost 50 percent of the production comes from the Marmara region, followed by the Aegean and North Mediterranean regions, concentrated in cities like Bursa, Yalova, Antalya, Ankara, Konya, and Burdur. Both domestic and foreign pear varieties are grown in Turkey. The major varieties are Santa Maria, Akca, Mustafabey, Cassia, Willliams, Ankara, and Deveci.