From the Mountains of Katırlı to Swiss Tables

BURSA (İHA) – The Katırlı Village Agricultural Development Cooperative, operating in Gemlik district of Bursa, has been exporting black olives to Switzerland for 44 years. Cooperative President Hulusi Bayrak has been leading the cooperative since its establishment in 1981. Bayrak noted that until 1998, many companies bought and processed olives from the cooperative, stating, "They buy the product from us and make a good profit. Because our products sell like hotcakes. We wanted to process and profit from our olives ourselves, so we set out on this path," he said. From branch to table cooperative production Stating that there are 150 households and 200 members in Katırlı Village, Bayrak said they primarily source their products from their own members, and if necessary, from reliable producers in neighboring villages. Emphasizing that the olives grow on slopes facing south, Bayrak said, "We have captured a good flavor and aroma. We need to maintain this flavor. We practice dry ...