The production and nursery business of Turkish heavyweight Alara is to start exporting a number of new fruit lines this year, with the UK set to be a key destination.
Apricots, which will hit the market in May, are forecast to reach 200 tonnes this year and should reach 2,500t in three years.
Pomegranates follow in October, with 300t this year and 3,000t forecast in three years time.
Plums are planned for next year, when 500t will be available.
The firm has so far planted 400 hectares in eight regions across the southern, western and northern parts of Turkey and sources extra volumes from grower partners who have planted its nursery’s trees.
The move will complement Alara’s existing export business, which focuses on cherries and figs.
Chief executive Yavuz Taner said: “We hope the UK will be a good market for us because it helped the development of our export business as buyers are very selective. If we can supply the UK market, we can do business with any country.
“We would like to start with the UK and then develop the business on the continent and in Russia.”
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