11.08.2026 12:40
The fig harvest has begun in the Mut district of Mersin. The products, preferred for their aroma, size, and durability, found buyers at 150-200 lira per kilogram on the branch. Figs, which reach up to 800 lira per kilogram when dried, are produced in an area of approximately 10,000 decares, and a yield of 90,000 tons is expected this year.
Harvest has begun for figs, for which a geographical indication application was filed in the district last year. It was stated that a yield of 90 thousand tons is expected this year from figs produced across approximately 10 thousand decares. After being collected from the orchards by producers, placed in crates, and loaded onto trucks, the figs were shipped to all corners of Turkey. The products, preferred for their aroma, size, and durability, found buyers at 150-200 lira per kilogram on the branch.
RAINFALL AFFECTED YIELD
Seher Sarıbaz, a producer from Dere District, noted that in some regions, due to weather conditions, there was a loss of yield because the products fell off during the ripening stage, but she was still satisfied with the yield. Sarıbaz said, "We have started our harvest. Thank God, the yields are good. We come in the early morning, we get up around 05:00. We are in the orchard at 05:30. Because we need to pick the figs before sunrise. If they are exposed to the sun, the fig's milk and dust cause severe itching. That's why we come early and get our work done early. Then we continue with our normal lives. The prices are reasonable for now."
ITS VALUE INCREASES WHEN DRIED
Tuba Çabuk, one of the producers, stated that she obtains a high-value product by drying fresh figs. Çabuk, who has been selling dried figs for 15 years, said, "In my first years, I started with 100-200 kilos, and now I produce 1.5 tons of dried figs. My goal is to increase it to 2 tons. 1 kilo of dried figs is obtained from 5 kilos of fresh figs. Prices also start at an average of 800 lira per kilo."
Fig trader Özge Yerlikaya also explained that at their workplace, where they come from the early morning hours, they package the figs brought by the villagers and send them to cities across the country.
GEOGRAPHICAL INDICATION AT THE FINAL STAGE
On the other hand, it was stated that the 90-day announcement period has begun for the geographical indication application with number C2025/00432, filed under the name 'Mut Fig' with the Turkish Patent Institute by the Mut Chamber of Commerce and Industry on October 31, 2025. At the end of the process, Mut Fig will have obtained its geographical indication.