Dried Fig Season Kicks Off in Aydın with Symbolic Purchase
· Dünya Gazetesi
At the traditional first purchase ceremony held at the Aydın Commodity Exchange, dried figs were symbolically bought at 850 TL per kilogram, with expectations of increased yield and quality in the new season.
First Purchase Ceremony of the Season in Aydın
The dried fig season has officially opened with the traditional first purchase ceremony held at the Aydın Commodity Exchange. The first harvest of dried figs, totaling 170 kilograms from 16 producers from the districts of Köşk, Germencik, İncirliova, and Efeler, was received. Aydın Governor Dr. Osman Varol, attending the ceremony for the first time, announced the symbolic first purchase price at 850 TL per kilogram to support producers. Officials wished for a fruitful new season and a productive harvest period where producers would receive fair compensation for their labor.
Aydın's Strategic Power in Fig Production
In his speech, Aydın Governor Dr. Osman Varol highlighted the city's central role in global fig production. Stating that Turkey meets 30% of the world's fig production, Governor Varol noted that 60% of this production occurs directly in Aydın. Varol announced that there are approximately 6.6 million fruit-bearing trees and 950,000 young saplings across an area of about 394,000 decares in the province. He also stated that over 18,000 producers registered in the Farmer Registration System derive their livelihood from this strategic product and that efforts are underway to maintain product quality.
Climate Conditions Elevate Quality to Peak
Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur stated that the abundant rainfall during the winter months and the absence of adverse weather conditions during the harvest period have brought fig quality to its highest level in recent years. Çondur reported that they have reached an unprecedented level of crop quality and that the overall product condition is highly satisfactory. It was also stated that thanks to favorable climatic conditions, the total yield expectation for this year is projected to exceed last year's, and the season is expected to conclude with high productivity.
Food Safety and Toxin Explanation
Addressing quality losses caused by extreme drought and hot weather in previous years, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur corrected public misconceptions. Çondur emphasized that the toxins formed were not due to agricultural pesticides or chemical sources and reminded that their sale to the domestic market is strictly prohibited by legislation. He refuted claims that defective products returned from export were being sold to Turkish consumers, stating that Turkish Food Codex standards are applied uncompromisingly in the domestic market as well.
Registration Figures and Export Leadership
Sharing the exchange's data from the past period, Fevzi Çondur reported that 71,500 tons of dried figs were registered nationwide, with 51,000 tons of this amount originating from Aydın. Recalling that the average sale registration price for ready-made producers was 233.82 TL per kilogram, Çondur said they had left behind a year where producers made a profit. Furthermore, he emphasized the province's continued export leadership in the global market by stating that 40,360 tons of Turkey's 53,663-ton dried fig exports in the 2025-2026 season were directly from Aydın.
Call for Domestic Consumption and Prices
Drawing attention to domestic consumption habits, Exchange Chairman Çondur stated that if the country's population of 86 million consumed just one fig per week, the entire production could be consumed domestically. He expressed the need to value local products due to their health benefits and mentioned that the average price for table figs in the domestic market ranges between 700 and 750 TL. Çondur added that a society that consumes its own products would also increase the value of its exports and wished a prosperous 2026-2027 season for traders and exporters.