Turkish apple producers face financial losses due to low prices

Apple producers across various regions in Turkey, including Niğde and Kahramanmaraş, are reporting significant financial difficulties. While harvests have been abundant following previous years of frost damage, the high volume of produce and quality issues caused by rain, hail, and diseases like black spot have driven market prices down.

In Niğde, CHP lawmaker Ömer Fethi Gürer noted that many apples remain on the trees because high labor and transport costs exceed the potential profit. Many fruits are being diverted to juice factories at prices as low as 2.5 to 3.5 lira per kilogram, a sharp decline from previous years. Producers report that these rates fail to cover basic expenses such as labor, fuel, and fertilizer.

In Kayseri, the Melikgazi Municipality organized an “Apple Days” event to promote the region's 17 different apple varieties and connect producers directly with consumers. Despite these promotional efforts, the broader agricultural sector continues to struggle with the gap between rising input costs and falling sale prices.