[REVISION HISTORY]

Turkey hazelnut harvest: Economic pressure and processing

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2026-10-02 11:54 UTC → 2026-10-02 13:02 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The hazelnut harvest in Turkey’s coastal regions has transitioned from collection to processing, with an expected yield of approximately 700,000 tons. The sector faces severe economic pressure as production costs have risen by at least 50% compared to the previous year, while market prices have fluctuated between 170 and 200 TL. To mitigate low pricing, many producers are processing crops into shelled hazelnuts, roasted products, or paste. In Ordu, farmers are increasingly utilizing the Turkish Grain Board (TMO) due to a significant price gap; while free market prices for 50-yield shelled hazelnuts hover around 180 TL, the TMO has set purchase prices at 250 TL, with some high-yield sales exceeding 260 TL. In Samsun, the Çarşamba Chamber of Agriculture has advised producers to pre-sort crops to avoid rejection at TMO warehouses, where roughly 600 tons are purchased daily. Officials warned that hazelnuts with high rot rates are being returned to farmers. Muammer Aydemir, President of the Çarşamba Chamber of Agriculture, also noted that while previous spraying was successful, the brown marmorated stink bug remains a renewed threat requiring pest control through the winter. For the 2026-2027 season, the TMO has established purchase prices of 255 TL per kg for Giresun quality hazelnuts and 250 TL per kg for Levant quality hazelnuts, based on a 50 percent sound kernel standard. These official rates remain higher than free market prices, which show a difference of 70 to 100 TL per kg, prompting producers to seek the TMO as a price floor. In Sakarya, harvesting continues in high-altitude areas like the Hendek district. Producers are currently spreading, sorting, and drying the nuts. While recent rainfall has improved internal fullness and yield, it has also increased the rate of perforated or damaged nuts due to high moisture levels, necessitating intensive sorting efforts.

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