Adana lemon harvest begins with high yields and price disparities

The lemon harvest has begun in Adana, Turkey, where approximately 215,000 to 218,000 decares of land are dedicated to citrus production. This season, officials expect a high yield, with estimates ranging between 700,000 and 710,000 tons.

Despite the high yield, producers are facing significant economic challenges due to low prices and a lack of buyers. At the farm level, lemons are being purchased for between 5 and 12 TL per kilogram. However, a massive price gap exists in the supply chain; while wholesale prices in the market are around 10 TL, prices in local bazaars reach 40 TL, and supermarket prices can climb as high as 100 TL per kilogram.

Agricultural leaders have attributed the slow progress and low prices to several factors, including shipping difficulties caused by the Russia-Ukraine war affecting maritime traffic. There is hope that prices will stabilize once export windows open around September 21, as competition from South African and Argentine lemon supplies diminishes.