The cherry season in Turkey has started, including the main varieties like Napoleon and Salihli. The season is shaping up to be a very different one from last seasons, thanks to the good weather it might even be a great one.

For Turkish exporting company Demir Fresh Fruits (DFF) the cherry season should be a good one. Alper Kerim is the general manager for the company and stated the season has started for multiple varieties: “about a month ago we started with the early varieties like early lory and then Vista. The main export varieties like Napoleon and Salihli has started just a week ago. This season’s quality easily shows us that this season will be significantly different than previous seasons. Thanks to good weather conditions the colour and sizes seem perfect. If we compare this to the same period of last season, we are in a very good situation.”

Demir Fresh Fruits exports about 1200 tons of cherries to retailers in the EU, but also sends around 600 tons of cherries to the Gulf and Asian markets, totaling 1800 tons for the season. “The main markets for Turkish cherries are always European countries. We have contracts with these countries and also we have a good connection with the United Kingdom. Gulf countries are also a big opportunity for Turkish cherries, but due to cheap product demand Gulf countries push us hard. Asian countries are very popular also. Especially China is a huge target for us, but due to some long cold treatment regulation, which has been requested by China, makes the situation difficult. However negotiations are still going on between both sides and hopefully the new regulations will be settled and the doors will finally open in terms of the cherry business.” Alper Kerim explains.

With most of the focus on European and Asian markets, it might come as a surprise that Demir Fresh Fruits will try to enter some African markets this season as well. “We are looking to enter African countries. We mainly export apples, next to the cherries. We’re exporting 20.000 tons of apple per year and we are exporting to different 18 countries. A few of them African countries like Nigeria, Ivory Coast , Kenya,” Kerim says. “Since we already send them apples, we’re currently talking with our partners in Africa to supply them cherries by air cargo as well. We are on it and we expect to send a few trial shipments in June. Africa is a big market and it’s a very exciting prospect.”

Thanks to the great weather Turkey’s had, Karim feels they might eb able to compete with countries that would otherwise have an advantage over them: “Our competition mostly comes from Spain and Italy. Just like us, they export towards other European countries and they have a geographical advantage. However, I’ve heard that Spain and Italy have some troubles with their quality this season, so we are trying to use this as an advantage for us. We’re really lucky to have had this great weather up until now, which has given us great quality cherries. I hope it’ll continue like this, so we’ll be able to have an excellent season.” Kerim concludes.