High Quality in 2019/2020 Drives High Demand for Turkish Pomegranate

Turkish pomegranates are experiencing an interesting season. Although the production quantity has decreased slightly from last year, the quality is very high. The demand is also very high, mainly due to a shortage from India. As a result of the high demand, many Turkish pomegranate farmers are seeking to increase their acreage and are focusing on improving value-addition, according to Neva Fresh, a Turkish pomegranate supplier from Antalya, which is the main pomegranate-producing region in Turkey.

Lower Yield, but Higher Quality in 2019

Turkish pomegranates are harvested in October and available until late March. In April, the farmers apply pesticides to the trees, which are pruned between June and August. By removing the branches that block sunlight, the so-called green pruning helps the fruits get the desired dark-red coloration. The harvest takes place at the start of October and has to be done swiftly, before the heavy rains arrive, as these heavy rains can cause cracks in the pomegranate skins. The pomegranates are then stored in a warehouse for 1 day, to get rid of gases, after which they are packaged and stored at 5℃.

Neva Fresh mainly produces pomegranates of the Hicaz variety, also known as Hejaz, a very common variety in Turkey. The Hicaz pomegranate is slightly acidic and dark red. This year, the yield in Turkey is slightly lower than in 2018, but this has resulted in a higher quality for each individual fruit. As the trees had fewer fruits to feed, and the farmers fewer fruits to tend to, this year’s pomegranates grew bigger than last year’s, with stronger coloration and a higher juice content as well. They can be stored for quite long, making them very well suited for export

The company is located in Antalya, which is Turkey’s prime pomegranate production region. The yield this year in Antalya is expected to be around 125K tons, and the total yield in Turkey will be around 350K tons.

High International Demand for Turkish Pomegranates

The high quality of this year’s produce has attracted a lot of overseas’ buyers. Even more so, there is a shortage of pomegranates coming from India, which is one of the main producers of the fruit. Due to a heavy monsoon, many of the Indian pomegranates have become very damaged and are not suitable for exports. Turkey’s ideal location between Asia and Europe has therefore led to a lot of increased demand from Asian countries. As a result, many suppliers are currently looking for new trading partners in this region, as is Neva Fresh. The company currently mainly exports to Russia, where the Hicaz pomegranate is very popular due to its high coloration and good price.

This year, Turkish pomegranates have gone up in price due to higher costs for pesticides, as well as the higher demand. The current farm gate price of TRY 2.50 per kg (USD 0.43) is still lower than the average farm gate price, making the Turkish pomegranates a popular option amongst buyers.

Due to the increased price and demand, many Turkish exporters have started looking into increasing their acreage, as well as value-addition services. Neva Fresh is planning to produce pomegranate juice, as well as start the production of pomegranate arils in different forms, such as IQF.