BAÇEM completes first mastic harvest in Balıkesir

The Balıkesir Farmers Training Center (BAÇEM), operated by the Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality, has completed its first mastic harvest in the Burhaniye district. This marks a significant milestone for the region's agricultural diversity, as the 150 mastic trees planted five years ago have begun producing high-value resin.

BAÇEM Director Nazım Tanrıkulu noted that the saplings were sourced from Çeşme approximately seven years ago. The trees belong to the 'C clone' variety, a commercially significant type previously associated primarily with Chios (Sakız Adası). To support growth, calcium carbonate sourced from Marmara Island was applied to the trees.

Gülnaz Çelikyurt Uzuner, Head of the Rural Services Department, emphasized the high added value of mastic production. The successful cultivation demonstrates that the North Aegean region, including Çeşme and Balıkesir, can successfully grow this species, potentially providing a new source of income for local agriculture.