Taşköprü Garlic Festival kicks off 36th edition in Kastamonu, Turkey

The 36th International Taşköprü Culture and Garlic Festival opened in the town of Taşköprü, Kastamonu Province, with a ceremony at the historic bridge, a ribbon‑cutting and a parade. Attendees included Governor Meftun Dallı, Kaymakam Abdullah Demirdağ, Mayor Hüseyin Arslan, Presidential adviser Ahmet Minder, former minister Murat Başesgioğlu and Bayrampaşa Mayor İbrahim Akın. The event highlighted the GI‑protected Taşköprü garlic, praised its aroma, quality and global reputation, and underscored its role in the region’s identity.

During the opening, officials announced the Taşköprü Garlic Green Storage and Compost Integration Project, a US$2.15 million initiative financed 80 % by the World Bank and 20 % by the municipality. The project will build a climate‑resilient cold‑storage facility with solar power, composting, water‑recycling systems, digital traceability, a food‑analysis lab and an auction hall serving about 4,000 producer families. The festival also featured stalls, music and a procession through the town’s streets.