Blueberry Production Begins at 1000 Meters Altitude in Bilecik
· NTV Ekonomi
Entrepreneur Mehmet Demir, shifting from the textile sector to agriculture, aims for a 6-ton blueberry harvest this season from a garden established with state support on idle land in the Pazaryeri district.
State-Supported Production at 1000 Meters Altitude
After operating in the textile sector for approximately 30 years in Bursa, 58-year-old Mehmet Demir, who handed over his business to his children, turned to agricultural production. Following his research, Demir evaluated an idle land at an altitude of 1000 meters near the village of Arpadere in the Pazaryeri district of Bilecik, bringing an 18-decare area into cultivation. The entrepreneur, who received 50% grant support within the scope of the Pazaryeri District Agriculture and Forestry Directorate's 'Popularizing Blueberry Production' project, planted 5,000 blueberry saplings. The facility has been producing sustainably for 5 years with the installation of a well, a modern irrigation system, and solar panels.
High Yield and Regional Employment
With the modern garden now in its fifth year of production, an estimated 6-ton blueberry harvest is expected in the current season. As the trees reach their full yield potential, the annual harvest is targeted to exceed 20 tons in the coming years. The enterprise, which opens seasonal employment opportunities for 10 to 15 people daily during the harvest period, contributes directly to the regional economy. The harvested products are sent to buyers in the Marmara Region primarily, as well as in the Aegean, Black Sea, and Central Anatolia regions, taking their place in the domestic fruit supply.