22.10.2026 11:30
Harvest has begun in the Aydın chestnut, which has an EU geographical indication registration. The men, called "sırıkçı," balance on branches 15-20 meters high and knock the chestnuts down with long poles, while the women collect the crop from the ground. The sırıkçılar earn approximately 5,000 lira a day, while the women earn 2,500 lira. Hasan Sarı, 66, who has been doing this job for 50 years, said, "Acrobats cannot hold a candle to us."
Harvest has begun in Aydın chestnuts, which are protected by geographical indication registration by the European Union as well as Türkiye, with the arduous efforts of men called “sırıkçı” who work in high branches and women who collect the crop under the trees.
In Aydın, where approximately 25,000 tons of chestnuts are produced annually, the crop grows especially in the high-altitude areas of Efeler, Köşk, Sultanhisar and Nazilli districts.
Before reaching tables, chestnuts undergo a difficult journey and are brought down from the branches of tall trees by human power.
A BALANCING SHIFT 15-20 METERS HIGH
The men, locally called “sırıkçı,” climb to a height of 15-20 meters and try to keep their balance on the branches.
The workers beat the branches with long poles 3 to 5 meters long in their hands, causing the chestnuts to fall to the ground with their spiky outer shells.
Seen from the ground, the pole climbers resemble acrobats, and their every movement requires care. While moving from one branch to another, the pole climbers work while maintaining their balance at height.
The pole climbers’ job does not end with climbing the tree. While standing on the branches, they must also direct the long pole, knock down the chestnuts and protect themselves from the spiky shells.
The busy shift at the tops of the trees is accompanied by the women’s collecting work below. The chestnuts that fall to the ground from the blows of the poles are gathered with care for their spiky shells. Since most of the trees are on uneven terrain, collecting the chestnuts from the ground becomes quite difficult.
The chestnuts filled into sacks are then emptied into pits by male workers.
The products are kept in pits for one month so that their spiky outer shells rot and the chestnuts come out of these shells, then they are cleaned by machine and made ready for the table.
THEY EARN 5,000 LIRA A DAY
In this process, the pole climbers earn about 5,000 lira per day, while the women earn 2,500 lira.
Tarık Sarı, one of the pole climbers working in the upper parts of Malgaçemir Neighborhood in Sultanhisar district, told an AA correspondent that their job is risky and said, “We have to step firmly where we stand. Otherwise, we may fall, break something, and face the risk of death. If we are not like acrobats, neither will this chestnut harvest end nor can we get through this difficult process.”
ACROBATS CANNOT HOLD A CANDLE TO US
Sarı’s father, Hasan Sarı, also noted that he has been knocking down chestnuts at the tops of trees for about 50 years, and said:
“It is not a job everyone can do. But doing this is a very simple matter for us. You need to check whether the tree is solid, whether it is rotten. Under your feet are tree leaves. When you step, it slips. When you slip, either your arm will be broken or you will die; it is very dangerous. The risk is very high. I am 66 years old now, and we have been at the top of these trees for 50 years. That is, acrobats cannot hold a candle to us.”
Mustafa Ören also emphasized that, despite being very careful, a spiky chestnut burr hit his eye twice, and said, “Those who can climb the tree are a little more courageous. Weight is also important in this job. It is not important to climb to the top of the tree; what is important is doing the work there.”
Yasemin Ören and Esengül Sarı also said they have a hard time because they work constantly bending over.