Sakarya pumpkin harvest begins in Turkey

The harvest season for Sakarya’s geographically indicated pumpkins, locally referred to as ‘white diamonds,’ has begun in the Sakarya province of Turkey. Primarily grown in the Akyazı and Erenler districts, the production process involves planting in late March or April, followed by a harvest period that runs from late September through the end of October.

After being harvested and sun-dried in the fields to reach the desired consistency, the pumpkins are sorted by size and transported to storage. These pumpkins are used in a variety of products, including desserts, soups, Turkish delight, marmalades, and jams.

Farmer İslam Aksoy noted that while field prices range between 10 and 15 lira, retail prices in markets are approximately 30 lira. Aksoy also mentioned that increased planting compared to the previous drought-affected year has impacted yields. The product is exported to international markets in addition to being distributed across Turkey.