09.04.2026 00:50
The Ministry of Trade detected exorbitant price increases in fruit and vegetable prices at chain markets in Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya during its inspections. The investigations revealed that peppers purchased for 42 TL were being sold for 249 TL, and hot peppers priced at 50 TL were being sold for 389 TL, with profit margins exceeding 500%. Following the irregularities identified in a total of 166 branches, businesses deemed to have engaged in unfair price increases were referred to the Unfair Price Assessment Board with a request for administrative sanctions.
The Ministry of Trade has identified findings regarding unfair price increases in fruits and vegetables at certain chain markets in Ankara, Izmir, and Antalya, and referred the matter to the Unfair Price Assessment Board for the necessary administrative sanctions to be applied.
BOUGHT CHARLISTON PEPPER FOR 42 LIRA AND SOLD IT FOR 249.67 LIRA
A statement was made regarding the issue from the Ministry's social media account. The statement noted that within the scope of market surveillance and inspection activities, the prices of products offered for sale in the fruit and vegetable sections of markets were examined in detail through the Hall Record System during inspections conducted by the Ankara Provincial Directorate of Trade on April 6.
The statement reported that during the inspections, it was determined that the charliston pepper was purchased by the market for 42 lira and offered to the consumer for 249.67 lira, and that "the beet was purchased by the market for 15 lira and offered to the consumer for 79.95 lira, the stuffed pepper was purchased by the market for 63.33 lira and offered to the consumer for 249.67 lira, and the parsley was purchased by the market for 5 lira and offered to the consumer for 19.95 lira."
The statement also indicated that as a result of these inspections, a total of 94 branches belonging to 13 different trade names of chain markets were compared regarding the purchase and sale prices of numerous vegetables and fruits, and it was concluded that exorbitant price increases had been made for the relevant products.
COMPARISON OF PURCHASE AND SALE PRICES OF NUMEROUS VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN 72 BRANCHES
On the other hand, it was noted in the statement that during inspections conducted in the capital on April 7, the price movements of products offered for sale in the fruit and vegetable sections of markets were examined, and it was found that ginger was purchased by the market for 53.5 lira and offered to the consumer for 196 lira.
The statement reported that red pepper was purchased by the market for 75 lira and offered to the consumer for 286.33 lira, iceberg lettuce was purchased by the market for 35 lira and offered to the consumer for 119.5 lira, cluster tomatoes were purchased by the market for 50 lira and offered to the consumer for 149.95 lira, white cabbage was purchased by the market for 8 lira and sold to the public for 24.95 lira, and cocktail tomatoes were purchased by the market for 72 lira and offered to the consumer for 219 lira.
The statement emphasized that as a result of these inspections, a total of 72 branches belonging to 11 different trade names of chain markets were compared regarding the purchase and sale prices of numerous vegetables and fruits, and it was stated that "it has been concluded that exorbitant price increases have been made for the relevant products."
INSPECTIONS CONDUCTED ON LOCAL AND CHAIN MARKETS IN IZMIR
The statement noted that inspections were conducted on local and chain markets operating in Izmir, and that the price movements of potatoes, green peppers, lemons, quinces, charliston peppers, and apples throughout the supply chain were examined through the Hall Record System.
The statement mentioned that it was determined that potatoes purchased from an in-hall trader operating in the Ödemiş district for 5 lira were offered to the consumer for 28.99 lira, and provided the following information: "Green peppers were purchased for 50 lira from a producer operating in the Serik district of Antalya and offered to the consumer for 249.99 lira, lemons were purchased for 18 lira from a broker in the Dalaman district of Muğla and sold to the consumer for 129.95 lira by the firm in Izmir, quinces were imported from Iran and purchased for 30 lira from an in-hall trader in Izmir and offered to the public for 225 lira by the firm in Izmir, charliston peppers were purchased for 48 lira from a producer in the Finike district of Antalya and offered to the consumer for 199 lira by the firm in Izmir, green peppers were purchased for 50 lira from a broker operating in the Elmalı district of Antalya and offered to the consumer for 389.95 lira by the firm in Izmir, and golden apples were purchased for 30 lira from a producer in the Gönen district of Balıkesir and sold to the consumer for 99.99 lira by the firm in Izmir." It was determined that unfair price increases were made by the mentioned businesses as a result of the evaluations conducted.
CABBAGE BOUGHT FOR 15 LIRA WAS OFFERED TO THE CONSUMER FOR 38 LIRA IN A CHAIN MARKET
The statement indicated that inspections were conducted on chain markets operating in Antalya, examining the price movements of cabbage, eggplant, green beans, carrots, zucchini, apples, tomatoes, peppers, and mandarins throughout the supply chain, and it was determined that cabbage purchased for 15 lira from a broker operating in the province was offered to the consumer for 38 lira.
The statement emphasized that eggplants were purchased for 35 lira from a broker in the same province and offered to the public for 67 lira, green beans were purchased for 160 lira from a broker operating in Antalya and sold to the consumer for 300 lira, carrots were purchased for 35 lira from a broker in Konya and offered to the consumer for 65 lira, zucchini was purchased for 35 lira from a broker in Antalya and sold to the public for 79.9 lira, apples were purchased for 55 lira from a trader in Antalya, sold to the in-hall trader for 84 lira, and offered to the consumer for 135 lira, tomatoes were purchased for 55 lira from a trader in Antalya, sold to the in-hall trader for 124 lira, and offered to the consumer for 135 lira, peppers were purchased for 17 lira from a trader in Antalya, sold to another in-hall trader for 40 lira, sold to the in-hall trader for 174 lira, and offered to the consumer for 199 lira, and mandarins were purchased for 20 lira from an exporter in Adana, sold to the in-hall trader for 35 lira, sold to the firm for 44 lira, and offered to the consumer for 69.95 lira. It was determined that unfair price increases were made by the mentioned firms as a result of the evaluations conducted.
The statement noted that in line with all these findings, the matter was referred to the Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board for the necessary administrative sanctions to be applied.