Hevpar Women's Cooperative completes first harvest in Van

The Hevpar Women's Cooperative, established by seven women in the Tuşba district of Van, has completed its first harvest of apples and hawthorn. Supported by the Tuşba Municipality, the cooperative aims to increase women's participation in economic life by transforming agricultural products into value-added goods.

The harvest took place in the Atmaca neighborhood within an orchard that was developed over 25 years from previously arid land. The collected apples are planned to be processed into natural vinegar for sale, moving away from previous methods of simply drying and selling the fruit.

Tuşba Municipality Co-Mayor Hanım Akkoş and members of the Women's Policy Directorate attended the event. Akkoş stated that the initiative seeks to ensure products are not wasted and to make women's labor more visible through collective production.