Cost Pressure Brings Olive Harvest to a Standstill

November 4, 2026 · GıdaTarım

Olive growers halt harvesting amid soaring diesel, fertilizer, and labor costs, leaving unpicked crops to rot on the trees.

Cost Pressure Leaves Olives on the Branch

The 2026 harvest season for olives, known as 'liquid gold' in Turkey, has begun with a severe crisis. High input costs in the field and low product purchase prices have put producers in a difficult situation. Faced with sharp increases in diesel, fertilizer, pesticide, and transportation expenses, farmers who cannot cover collection costs have decided to halt harvesting. The abandonment of crops to rot on the branch disrupts the market's supply balance, inevitably triggering exorbitant price increases on market stalls and shelves.

Rising Labor Wages Prevent Orchard Entry

Labor costs constitute the largest expense item in olive harvest activities. In the new season, daily wages for female workers collecting fallen olives are set between 1,200 TL and 1,550 TL. Daily wages for male workers, including those using poles, shaking branches, and packing, reach the band of 1,500 TL to 1,850 TL. These wages, added to maintenance costs such as pruning and fertilizing, make it practically impossible for producers to bring labor into their orchards.

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