Muğla begins first mastic harvest after 11-year cultivation project

The first mastic harvest has commenced in Muğla, Turkey, marking the culmination of an 11-year cultivation project. Initiated in 2015 by the General Directorate of Plant Production under the Medicinal Aromatic and Dye Plants Development Project (TAB Project), the initiative aims to reduce Turkey's reliance on imports for mastic, which is widely used in gastronomy, cosmetics, and various industrial sectors.

Currently, production covers approximately 100 decares in the region. Due to the slow growth of the mastic plant, the trees have only recently reached maturity. Each tree yields between 250 grams and 1 kilogram of product. The market value of the harvested mastic is significant, with wholesale prices ranging between 30,000 and 35,000 TL per kilogram, while some market prices reach up to 50,000 TL.

Ongoing efforts to expand production and improve quality include a collaboration between the Aegean Agricultural Research Institute, the Regional Directorate of Forestry, and the South Aegean Development Agency (GEKA). These organizations are currently conducting a mastic inventory and performing quality analyses on leaf and resin samples to establish a roadmap for expanding cultivation areas beyond the current districts of Kavaklıdere and Yatağan.