Turkey's Cherry Farmers Hit by Low Purchase Prices
Cherry Crisis Looms in Turkey as Farmers Leave Crops to Rot
Cherry growers in Turkey are facing a difficult harvest season as low purchase prices make production unprofitable. In the Hisarcık district of Kütahya Province, many farmers say they may leave a large portion of their cherries unpicked because selling them would result in financial losses.
Producers report that the current purchase price of 40 Turkish lira per kilogram does not even cover harvesting costs.
Why Farmers Are Refusing to Harvest
Buyers are currently offering around 40 Turkish lira (approximately 1.20 US dollars) per kilogram of cherries.
According to local farmer İsmail Çakır, this price is too low to cover basic production expenses, including the wages of seasonal workers.
"Forty lira per kilogram does not even cover the daily wages of harvest workers," the farmer explained.
As a result, many growers say they will harvest only enough fruit for personal use while leaving the remaining cherries to spoil on the trees.
Where the Cherries Usually Go
After collection, cherries are typically transported to refrigerated storage facilities before being delivered to juice processing plants in İzmir.
With fewer cherries expected to be harvested this season, processors could receive significantly smaller volumes than originally anticipated.
Growing Pressure on Farmers
Rising labor and production costs continue to put pressure on Turkish farmers, while low market prices reduce profitability for many agricultural producers.
- Purchase price: 40 TL per kilogram.
- Harvesting costs exceed expected income.
- Some farmers plan to leave part of the crop unharvested.
- Lower harvest volumes could affect the fruit processing industry.
The situation highlights the challenges facing Turkey's agricultural sector as producers struggle with rising costs and declining profit margins.
