Turkey's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr. Bekir Pakdemirli, announced the purchase prices for sulfurized and unsulfurized dried apricots during a videoconference. The country, leading in apricot production worldwide, has seen a 170% increase in production since 2002, contributing 2% to the country's total agricultural exports. To bolster the industry, the government supports apricot producers with various incentives, including financing and grants, and has recently established the first licensed dried apricot warehouse in the country, capable of storing 5,000 tons.