İnhisar pomegranate yields expected to drop to 1,800 tons

Pomegranate producers in the İnhisar district of Bilecik, Turkey, are anticipating a significant decline in crop yields for the upcoming harvest season. Local growers report that production capacity is expected to drop to approximately 60 percent of previous levels.

Tahir Ünlem, a local producer, stated that while the region typically expects around 3,000 tons, the current forecast is approximately 1,800 tons. This decline is attributed to tree fatigue following the previous season's workload.

Historically, the district produced between 8,000 and 10,000 tons annually, but total production has steadily decreased as many farmers transitioned from pomegranate orchards to greenhouse farming.

The İnhisar pomegranate is noted for its sweet flavor, making it highly sought after for fresh consumption, juice production, and Turkish delight, rather than for pomegranate molasses. The harvest is expected to begin in the first week of October and continue through December depending on weather conditions. Due to the expected scarcity, producers are monitoring market prices, which stood at approximately 25 lira last season.