Turkey seasonal preparations: Pepper harvests and herbal demand

Across various regions in Turkey, citizens and farmers are engaged in seasonal preparations for winter, focusing on agricultural preservation and herbal remedies.

In Denizli’s Beyağaç district, farmers are preserving ancestral pepper seeds, including Kapya, Kale, Beyağaç, and Kayaca varieties, to maintain agricultural heritage. Similarly, in Kırşehir, the harvest of geographically indicated Cemele peppers is underway, with many being dried for year-round consumption.

In Hatay, residents in Altınözü are drying hot peppers on balconies, a practice that serves as a vital local livelihood. However, in Eskişehir, traditional home-drying methods are declining due to high humidity and rising fresh pepper costs. Consumers there are increasingly turning to ready-made dried peppers sourced from Gaziantep to avoid crop loss and high expenses.

Additionally, as temperatures drop, there is a notable increase in demand at herbalists (aktars). People are seeking natural remedies such as linden, sage, rosehip, and propolis to manage seasonal respiratory issues and strengthen immunity.