HAYRİ UĞUR: WE ARE SENDING AVOCADO TO 30 COUNTRIES FROM TURKEY

Mediterranean Exporters' Association (AKİB) Coordinator Chairman Hayri Uğur told that the production of tropical fruits has become widespread in recent years in the fertile soil of Çukurova, which cradled many civilizations with its 8 thousand-year history and exported to the world markets.

Stating that the Mediterranean climate is suitable for tropical fruit production, Uğur said, "The number of producers who have achieved successful results in avocado, mango and pitaya in this field has been increasing day by day."

Uğur also noted, "47 percent of the fresh fruit and vegetable exports in general and 79 percent of citrus export realized in Mediterranean region where export of tropical fruits began to rise as mango, pitaya and avocado. Our region has been performing a main part of Turkey's exports of pulses."

"Avocado exports, which were 31 thousand dollars in 2015, increased to 11 million 100 thousand dollars in 11 months of this year. In other words, we have increased our export performance by 35 times. The export of mango and pitaya which is also one of the tropical fruits, is almost 16 thousand dollars. We believe that tropical fruit production will rapidly spread in our region and we will diversify our exports accordingly. The largest market of Turkey in terms of avocado is Ukraine, Romania, Russia and Greece. We are sending avocado to 30 countries from Maldives to Seychelles Islands," Uğur concluded...