Urla hosts Traditional Grape Harvest Festival

The Traditional Grape Harvest Festival commenced in Urla on August 14-15, featuring parades, folk dances, and cultural events to celebrate the region's deep-rooted viticulture history. The festival highlights the connection between the land, human labor, and the local economy.

During the opening ceremonies, Urla Mayor Selçuk Balkan emphasized a commitment to protecting agricultural lands from urban development. He stated that since taking office, the municipality has not opened any agricultural land to zoning for construction and pledged to continue this policy to preserve the city's identity and memory.

To support local producers, the municipality reported that it has distributed 15,000 olive saplings to date and plans to distribute another 15,000 this year. Muharrem Uslucan, President of the Urla Chamber of Agriculture, added that grape cultivation is a living heritage and a vital cultural value for the region.