Dragon Fruit Harvest Begins Under Cover in the Black Sea Region

September 15, 2026 · Tarım TV

A producer in Samsun's Çarşamba district, who replaced a hazelnut grove with a heated greenhouse, is achieving high income per unit area with dragon fruit cultivation.

Within the scope of agricultural production efforts in the Yukarı Donurlu neighborhood of Samsun's Çarşamba district, tropical products are being introduced to the region. Producer Neşe Özbek, a mother of two, has demonstrated that alternative crop diversity is possible in the Black Sea climate by cultivating dragon fruit in her covered cultivation facility. Özbek, who obtains an average of 1 ton of product annually, aims to generate a total income of 250,000 Lira this year from the fruits she sells at 250 Lira per kilogram.

Seeking an alternative to traditional hazelnut production, the producer removed a portion of her hazelnut grove four years ago and established a modern 480-square-meter greenhouse area. Producer Neşe Özbek, explaining her entrepreneurial journey and production goals, stated:

Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, Kemal Yılmaz, who inspected the production facility on-site and performed the season's first harvest, highlighted the sensitivity of the species to the region's conditions. Emphasizing the importance of the heated greenhouse environment, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz made the following statement:

It was stated that dragon fruit provides a much higher profit margin compared to traditional agricultural products in the coastal strip. Pointing to the product's yield and nutritional value, Samsun Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz noted in his assessment:

The facility not only sells fruit but also increases added value by producing seedlings and saplings. Producer Neşe Özbek continued her remarks, explaining the sales channels and the sapling market:

Through field studies conducted under the coordination of the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, the aim is to expand high-income covered cultivation models in coastal districts. This initiative, which serves as a role model for producers across the province, plans to both increase the income level of family businesses and boost the supply of tropical fruits with domestic resources. The success in yield achieved by the established heated greenhouse infrastructure provides a concrete example for other farmers in the region seeking alternative products.

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