İzmir Metropolitan Municipality provides support for fig producers

The İzmir Metropolitan Municipality has launched a support program to distribute 10,000 fig drying trays, known as ‘kerevet’, to local producers. The initiative aims to enhance the quality of figs and increase the economic value of the harvest.

Mayor Cemil Tugay initiated the first phase of distribution in the Tire and Torbalı districts. The project, managed by the municipality's Department of Agricultural Services, utilizes grated trays to prevent figs from touching the soil during the drying process. This method facilitates faster, more homogeneous drying through improved airflow, which helps maintain moisture balance and prevents the growth of mold and fungi. Crucially, the trays are intended to reduce the risk of aflatoxin contamination from the soil.

İzmir plays a vital role in the sector, accounting for approximately 22% of Turkey's total fresh fig production. According to 2025 data, the region produced 82,781 tons of fresh figs across 117,415 decares of land. The support program seeks to minimize product loss and reduce the post-harvest workload for farmers in key production areas such as Tire, Kiraz, Beydağ, Ödemiş, Selçuk, and Torbalı.