Turkey has the potential to export a much larger percentage of its overall fruit and vegetable production, according to the organisers of the country's largest fresh produce trade event, Fresh Turkiye, which kicks off the annual global trade event calendar on 10-12 January 2014.
Despite shipping fresh produce to several different countries around the world – including Russia, Iraq and Germany, its three leading international markets – Turkey still only exports around 2.5 per cent of the 45m tonnes of fruit and vegetables it produces each year.
'Our country has great advantages in means of its geographical location and the market,' said the event's organisers. 'The dynamic structure of the food sector, the industrial investments and especially the recent foreign capital input has not only boosted this sector, but also made its global profile more prominent.'
Organised by the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality and Start Fuarcılık, the three-day show takes place at the Istanbul Expo Center.
'The fair is growing with the aim of increasing the export business, and Turkish producers are working to guarantee increased quality standards so they can offer their fruit and vegetables on international markets,' the organisers added.
'For this reason, following the initial few years when it focused on the internal market, Fresh Turkiye is opening itself up to the world.'
New openings
'The market has changed,' said Mehmet özler. 'We used to promote our quality, but constant oversupply from Turkey means that quality is not as appreciated as it once was and the market is now more price focused.'
