Turkey is one of the world's most prominent cherry producers, typically accounting for nearly 20% of global production. This year, the harvest was initially expected to reach around 725,000 tons, with 120,000 tons planned for export. However, early-season frost has affected key growing regions, leading to a downward revision of these projections.
As Yagmur Ozbutun, Export Area Executive at Ser Pak Packaging, explains: "The frost has caused significant damage to orchards, which will likely result in lower yields this year. We now expect both production and export volumes to fall short of earlier estimates. Despite this setback, Turkey remains a major player in the global cherry market. Final production numbers will become clearer as the season progresses."
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In the face of these challenges, maintaining the quality and shelf life of cherries during transport has become even more critical. Ozbutun also highlights the role of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) in extending the shelf life of cherries while preserving the appearance of their skin. "Fresh cherries typically begin to spoil within a few days, which can lead to losses during transportation. These losses can be minimized with the right packaging solutions, particularly during the transfer phase. MAP helps slow down the fruit's respiration rate, preserving its freshness, skin appearance, and nutritional value for a longer period."
"In addition, MAP also reduces the weight loss of cherries during transportation and storage, which helps minimize damage caused by transpiration loss. This is particularly important when cherries are transported over long distances, where maintaining their quality is crucial. By preventing water loss, MAP helps reduce weight loss and skin deformation, ensuring that cherries remain fresh and visually appealing."
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The exported cherries can be kept fresh for up to 30 days, Ozbutun explains: "We guarantee that our modified atmosphere packaging can keep cherries fresh for up to 30 days under proper conditions. This ensures that cherries maintain the highest quality during transportation and storage, significantly reducing waste. Our packaging solutions contribute to preserving freshness by optimizing airflow; they protect cherries from external factors such as humidity, temperature fluctuations, and oxygen levels, reducing losses and enhancing product quality."
Ser Pak is preparing its clients for the cherry season to evaluate the effectiveness of their packaging solutions. "We provide essential engineering support to our customers in Turkey, the United States, Spain, Italy, and Chile before the cherry season begins. Through tests and trials conducted with our customers prior to the season, we evaluate the effectiveness and quality of our packaging solutions. Based on the results of these trials, we aim to establish new collaborations during the season. Additionally, we offer tailored solutions to meet the specific needs of potential customers."
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"Furthermore, we are proud to hold a BRC (British Retail Consortium) certification at Ser Pak Ambalaj. This certification demonstrates that our packaging solutions meet the highest international standards and guarantees the safety, quality, and effectiveness of our products," Ozbutun concludes.
For more information:
Yagmur Ozbutun
Ser Pak Packaging
Tel: +90 533 073 70 98
yagmur.ozbutun@serpak.com.tr
https://www.serpak.com.tr/en