Young Farmers in Kınık Reach Market Directly from the Field
· Tarım Dünyası
In Kınık, İzmir, young women farmers overcame the low prices and delayed payment issues from paste factories by establishing direct partnerships with retail chains.
Young Farmer's Struggle Begins in Kınık
Ayşe Ölmez, a final-year university student engaged in agricultural production in Sucahlı Village, Kınık district of İzmir, set out with the goal of increasing female employment in agriculture and producing value-added products. The young producer, Ayşe Ölmez, who made her voice heard at a meeting organized by the Bergama Chamber of Commerce, expressed her commitment to agricultural production with the following words:
"I want to farm, I want to produce."
Ölmez, who grows 1000 tons of tomatoes annually, implemented modern and conscious production methods on her fields with her sister, Özge Ölmez.
Cost and Revenue Problems in Traditional Marketing
Addressing the marketing problems, which are the biggest challenges for small family businesses in the region, Ölmez stated that the costs could not be covered by selling fresh tomatoes. The delayed and partial payments by paste factories for fresh tomatoes, which they sold at 35 kuruş per kilogram last year, put producers in a difficult situation. Despite receiving a first-class quality certificate by naturally sun-drying her products, the young farmer, unable to reach the foreign market due to insufficient capital and facilities, began searching for alternative marketing channels.
Strategic Cooperation Established with the Retail Supply Chain
Following the producer's voice being heard, a step came from an important player in the retail sector. Migros General Directorate made the following statement on the matter:
"We want to meet with Ms. Ayşe and support her."
Following the statement, Mete Emre, Migros Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Purchasing Manager, conducted an on-site inspection. Evaluating the established cooperation, Young Farmer Ayşe Ölmez described the process as follows:
"Reliable, clean, and high-quality foods from our soil will reach tables directly. This is not just trade; it is a valuable step supporting women's labor, family production, and the sustainability of local agriculture."
Transition from Land Inherited from Grandfather to Modern Farming
Touching upon the history of family farming, the young producer stated that her father had made a living by selling vegetables as a street vendor for years on the 4-decare land inherited from her grandfathers. Initially hesitant about the idea of working with corporate markets, Ayşe Ölmez's father made the following assessment:
"I can't do it, Ayşe, let's give it to the places we know."
Ölmez later stated that her father handed over the management when they met with the purchasing officials in the field, saying:
"I don't know, I can't do it, if anything happens, Ayşe will be responsible."
2025 Season Production and Shipment Volumes
Thanks to the planned production and guaranteed purchase model, the production volume reached significant levels in the 2025 season. According to the production data shared by Ayşe Ölmez, a total of 1 million 100 thousand kilograms of Rio tomatoes and 746 thousand 800 kilograms of Kapia peppers were harvested from the field. The high-quality harvested produce, consisting of 562,820 kilograms of Rio variety suitable for crates and 443,872 kilograms of Kapia peppers, were directly delivered to Migros market shelves and reached consumers.
Value-Added Production and 'Canım Köy' Brand
The young producers, who want to preserve regional product diversity, continue to grow watermelons and the geographically renowned Sucahlı melon, in addition to tomatoes and peppers. The entrepreneurs, who gather their products under the registered brand 'Canım Köy', are focusing on value-added agricultural products such as processed and dried foods in response to additional demands from chain stores. This branding step has paved the way for vegetables grown in the Kınık and Bergama regions to be directly represented with their origin in the national market.
Cooperative Movement Initiated with Five Women Producers
Ayşe Ölmez, who left her 4.5-year career in the banking sector to return to the lands of her native village, is organizing with local women to spread success broadly. Five women producers who came together in the village plan to unite their production power through an agricultural development cooperative they will establish. With this corporate structure, women's labor will be organized from the field to the final consumer, and products will be marketed directly by establishing common machinery and drying facility infrastructure.
Future Perspective of Small Family Businesses in Agriculture
The integration of small and medium-sized family businesses with corporate buyers presents a critical success story for the retention of the young population in rural areas and for food supply security. This model, which sprouted in Sucahlı Village under the leadership of sisters Ayşe and Özge Ölmez, proves that small producers can achieve high yield and quality with the right guidance and market support. Strengthened by the cooperative movement, women farmers are determined to continue making local production sustainable.