Turkish cherries may not be too readily available this season but, despite the forecast shortfall, growers and exporters are confident that this one-off blip will not detract from the country as an established source of high-quality cherries.
The season started out in line with last year in the second week of June, but the over-cropping of trees last year followed by bouts of rain in the flowering period and pollination issues caused volumes to drop substantially this year. The production area in the Mersin region will see volumes fall by around 40 per cent, while further west, a 75 per cent drop is anticipated.
Exporters insist that, though there has been a notable reduction in the crop, there has been a big improvement in product quality.
But concerns about the discovery of maximum residue limit (MRL) exceedances in Turkish salads, found in Russia at the beginning of the month, has put UK importers on red alert on all produce from the country, although there have been no such findings in the cherry crop. The news that there have been too many nitrates found on Turkish peppers, tomatoes and lettuce has encouraged UK-based importers to reconsider their options even in the cherry category.
The Turkish cherry industry, as a whole, has stayed positive about the situation it is in, with the majority of growers and suppliers confident that their crop is high-quality and safe.
Kerim Taner, managing director at Turkish cherry giant Alara, insists that the reduction in volumes is a one-off blip for Turkish cherry production, which is otherwise moving forward every year. The Bursa-based firm would normally export some 10,000 tonnes of cherries in an average year but, this season, volumes are likely to fall below 6,000t. “We do not have this kind of season very frequently,” Taner says. “This kind of situation comes up once in every five or 10 years but, otherwise, Turkish production is increasing in a constructive way.
“The price per kilo is good but, overall, it is a very poor season because of the low crop. The harvest volume is very limited and it will not really make anyone satisfied,” he adds.
Peter Davis, managing director at importer-exporter Davis (Louth) Ltd, says the news of residue issues in the Turkish salad category has already knocked the confidence of UK importers, even when dealing with cherries. “Nitrates have been found on parts of the salad crop out there but, even though the tests we did were fine, you just can’t take the risk of bringing it in,” he says. “They are very worried about prices - nothing has been found on cherries, but there has been a knock-on effect. It would be really difficult for anyone to take on other growers for the moment.”
But the situation is far from irreversible and, on a visit to the country, Davis saw that there was plenty of potential for a strong future. One of the best ways forward, he says, would be outside investment in the sector. “The sector has really stagnated over the last 18 months, and growers and suppliers are desperately looking for outward investment, both on a financial and technical level,” he explains. “Turkish growers who are tied up with outside groups are doing very well. There is so much that could be done there, and so much that could be developed.”
Importers agree that the Turkish crop has a number of advantages over its rival fruit, with its recognisable quality. “Cherries are like dynamite - rain or wind even a day before they are picked could see them go off,” Davis says. “The quality of Turkish cherries is generally very high while, over the last few seasons, European cherries have struggled with the weather. The bulk of the crop arrives just as the French and Spanish season ends, so timing is on their side. Turkey will continue to be a key source.”
The main variety grown in the country is known as Ziraat 0900, or Napoleon. The heart-shaped fruit, which is popular for export, has a strong green stalk, with firm and flavoursome flesh that is resistant to cracking, and the stone comes away easily.
The variety has a number of advantages in production, including its resistance to rains and its firmness, as well as its consumer-related plus-points, with its dark skin - favoured in the UK - and sweet flavour, a thick green stem that conveys freshness and a long shelf life.
Sendings to the UK and the continent traditionally make up the best part of Turkish cherry exports, but new markets including eastern Europe and Russia are now opening up as attractive alternatives. The volumes sent to the UK appear to be falling gradually, as new markets continue to open up and re-direct the fruit. Turkish exporters sent 19 per cent of the cherry crop to the UK in 2005 but, by 2007-08, this had nearly halved, to 10 per cent. “Demand from European retailers is extremely strong, especially among those who prefer high-quality cherries,” says Taner. “But exports to other markets, such as Russia, are also increasing year on year.
“This year, exports to the UK have fallen because they cannot match European prices.
“The UK has always gone for top-quality product, but now the other European retailers have realised that cherries are an image-building product. They have seen that by stocking the best product, they can achieve greater turnover, and there has been a major shift towards Turkish cherries, which are consistently good quality.”
Mete Guneyhan, who heads up Mete Guneyhan Dıs Tic Gıda Madd İth İhr, is proud of the reputation that Turkish cherries have carved for themselves in a competitive market. The Mersin-based producer grows up to 300t of cherries each year. “UK demand for the fruit depends on quality, and we have found that importers want Turkish cherries because of their good reputation,” Guneyhan says. “If you have high-quality product, the UK always pays more than other countries. We are always in close contact with our growers and we inform them of exactly what we need, and how we want the cherries to be grown.
“The UK has been importing Turkish cherries for 15-20 years, but we have found demand is still growing.
“This season, the size of the fruit has tended to be bigger, and this means we can get a better price,” he adds.
Those involved with the Turkish cherry sector agree that the best way forward for the sector would be support and investment, both from within and outside the country.
Alara, which has three orchards backed up by 2,450 GlobalGAP-certified growers across the country, has taken prompt action to make the most of the reduced crop, to try to recuperate from the low-volume year. “We have been educating and training our growers for more efficient pruning, fertilising and irrigation, so we will keep giving these services to our growers. We also have a very detailed spraying programme and audit, prepared by our plant protection department,” says Taner. “This is our way of investing in them, so that they can take care of the orchards in the future.”
A research and development programme undertaken by the cherry giant in conjunction with a Turkish university is working on varietal development, packaging innovation and machinery updates, in order to take the category forward.
“We are doing everything we can to create a point of difference,” Taner says. “We are working with breeders all over the world to get early and late varieties, so that we can prolong the season.”
The right investment and innovation will see the Turkish cherry sector easily overcome the issues it has faced this season, so that it can continue to build on its good reputation.
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