Aronia cultivation grows among female entrepreneurs in Turkey

Female entrepreneurs in Samsun and Afyonkarahisar are increasingly turning to aronia, a medicinal and aromatic fruit, as a high-value alternative to traditional crops like tobacco and hazelnuts.

In Samsun’s Yakakent district, Birgül Ay and Kübra Ay have planted 7,000 aronia saplings across 25 decares of land. They aim to establish a fruit drying facility and pursue export opportunities. Fresh aronia is currently selling for approximately 400 TL per kilogram, with value increasing significantly when processed.

In Afyonkarahisar’s Sinanpaşa district, entrepreneur Tülin Helvacıoğlu has expanded her production from 1.5 tons last year to 5 tons this year using 2,300 plants. Helvacıoğlu processes the fruit into powder and vinegar to maximize economic returns. Local agricultural officials note that the high economic yield of medicinal plants and the growing consumer focus on healthy nutrition are driving this shift toward agricultural diversification.