Farmer Transforms Idle Land into Aronia Orchard in Sakarya
· NTV Ekonomi
Ergün Gül, a producer in Sakarya's Karapürçek district, has started cultivating aronia, a fruit selling for 400 Turkish Liras per kilogram, by utilizing his 1.7-decare idle land.
Alternative Production Move in Sakarya
Ergün Gül, 41, who is involved in agriculture and animal husbandry in Mesudiye Neighborhood of Sakarya's Karapürçek district, has created an alternative production model for the region's agriculture. According to information sourced from İHA, the producer, who focused on the aronia fruit which sells for 400 TL per kilogram on the market, began production after determining the suitability of the soil structure. Gül, who is bringing this valuable product, not yet widely known across Turkey, to the region, aims to offer it to consumers both fresh from the branch and dried.
Aronia Orchard on Idle Land
Producer Ergün Gül, stating his desire to utilize his idle land, explained the background of his initiative with the following words:
"Here, we are involved in agricultural activities such as aronia, blueberries, hazelnuts, and animal husbandry. The main reason for establishing this aronia orchard is that we had about one and a half decares, around 1,700 square meters, of empty land. While thinking, 'What can we do here, what can we produce, what can we do that will benefit people?', we discovered that aronia is not well-known either in our vicinity or across Turkey."
As part of the project, a total of 200 saplings were planted in the said orchard.
Harvest Excitement at the End of August
Touching upon the positive effects of the plant on health, Producer Ergün Gül emphasized the product's quality with the following statements:
"The aronia fruit is a true powerhouse of antioxidants."
Evaluating the benefits and production process of the product, Producer Ergün Gül continued his words as follows:
"After learning that we could grow aronia here healthily and make it ready for consumption by people, primarily because of its high antioxidant content for diabetes and many other diseases, providing health and energy to the body, we started growing aronia here healthily."
Producer Ergün Gül, counting down the days for the collection of the first yields, announced the harvest schedule as follows:
"Towards the end of August, around August 20th, they will be ready to be collected and consumed healthily."
Market Targets and Promotion Plan
Speaking about the distribution channels and marketing strategy of the cultivated product, Producer Ergün Gül explained his goals with the following words:
"We will try to reach people from person to person by explaining to them how healthy and nutrient-rich the aronia fruit is, and we will try to introduce it to people, especially through social media, so that everyone can benefit from it."
Sharing his excitement about the initial production process, Producer Ergün Gül made the following call to consumers:
"This will be our first harvest as well, and if fate allows, we are also curious about the results. Our fruits, our field are here; we grew them healthily, and we want to distribute them in the same way. They should really research the aronia fruit; they will see how healthy a fruit it is, a powerhouse of antioxidants, through their own research."