KONYA - "Cherry production in Italy, France, Spain and Poland has seen almost 80 percent decrease due to frost in May, which resulted in intensive interest in Turkish cherry," said Kerim Taner, CEO of Alara Agricultural Products Industry and Trade Corp.
Taner told A.A that they expect record amount of production in cherry, exceeding 250,000 tons, this year.
Stating that there is an unexpected increase in cherry exports since the start of harvest in Aegean region, Taner said this is due to the frost in several European countries in May.
Taner said this picture might change in July, when people start going on vacation in Europe, and harvesting starts in Russia.
"We expect record amounts of cherry production in central Anatolia, around Afyonkarahisar and Aksehir regions. We will make promotions in order to keep exports high in July as well" he added.
Turkey has exported 57,000 tons of cherry last year, said Taner who noted that this was possible due to World Cup 2006 because the matches increased consumption, people did not go on vacation much and many did not leave their countries.