Turkey: The prickly pear harvest started in Mersin

The fruit, which is harvested after ripening, reaches about 10 centimeters in length. Since the fig is covered with hard thorns, its harvest is done with the help of protective gloves or long tongs. The fig, which is sold at prices ranging from 10 to 15 lira per kilogram, reveals its soft and sweet fruit when it is separated from its hard shell. It is known that the fruit, which is generally consumed cold, is good for digestive system disorders. Known as the wild type of fig, the fruit is collected from cacti that mature only in summer. Figs, which require special effort to harvest because they are covered with hard thorns up to 10 centimeters, are taken from their branches in the early morning hours so that the thorns do not blow away from the wind and damage the producers. Stating that the Prickly Fig is a source of healing, the producer Gürhan Ahraz said, “The prickly fig is a fruit that loves heat. This ...