Hakkı Albayrak cultivates 120 exotic fruit varieties in Turkey

Turkish horticulturist Hakkı Albayrak has imported seeds from more than 50 countries across three continents and established a garden that grows around 200 different fruit, vegetable and nut varieties without using greenhouses. About 120 of these species have successfully adapted to the Black Sea climate, including avocado, pepino, pawpaw (native to North America), goji berry, Japanese plum and various colored tomatoes and potatoes. Albayrak expects a harvest of roughly 300 avocados this year, aiming for up to one tonne of produce annually. He sells the larger fruits at prices ranging from 70 to 100 Turkish lira each, noting strong demand from consumers interested in organic and unusual produce. The project also supports academic research on the satiety effects of pawpaw and highlights the potential for reducing imports of exotic foods.