FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION...

Hayrettin Uçak, Chairman of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association, said that necessary measures were taken for seasonal agricultural workers and that there was no problem.

Uçak said, "Prices of newly released products are high. With the costs, packaging, workmanship and commission fee, prices are rising necessarily. In the non-seasonal product, it is necessarily sold at a price higher than the market value, but prices return to normal in the season. We had the problem of finding a driver on the motorway in the first days. After lifting of 14 days process, it was resolved. The Ministry of Commerce has created buffer zones and we have survived that process. We are not in trouble. Currently diagnosed with rapid diagnostic kits."

Indicating that it is not possible for any vehicle that they do not get an identifier to be on the road, Uçak explained, "According to the law of the Hall, it can be taken to market without getting into the Hall after having its tag. Everything is registered. Otherwise vehicles are tracked and their penalty will be imposed."

“We will get through stronger from the crisis”

Cengiz Balık, Vice Chairman of the Board of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association, said that the fresh fruit and vegetable sector is one of those sectors that will be least affected by the pandemic.

Reminding that people are at home due to quarantine measures, Cengiz Balık noted, "Therefore, fruit and vegetable consumption increased compared to previous years. This is a chance for our industry. We are advantageous than competing countries. We will not face difficulties in harvesting, finding workers, like Italy and Spain. But there is an increase in input costs. Prices rose on issues such as packaging materials and logistics. Despite everything, we will get through stronger from this crisis."

Emin Demirci, Member of the Board of Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters' Association added, “When there is a product scarce in any way, you should not import immediately. Farmers have trouble. There is no need to educate the farmers with imports."