08.05.2025 16:52
The harvest of salep has begun in the Kavak district of Samsun. The production of salep, which can reach up to 3,000 TL per kilogram, provides farmers with high profits, with an income of 2.5 million TL possible from one decare of land. Kavak salep has a high glucomannan content and is receiving great interest across Turkey.
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The harvest of salep, defined as 'gold from the soil' in the Kavak district of Samsun, has begun. With a price reaching 3,000 TL per kilogram, salep provides high profits for producers and attracts great interest in the market. A salep harvest event was held at the Salep Application Center located in the Çakıyeri area of Çakallı Neighborhood in Kavak district. During the harvest event, producers stated that the value of salep is increasing every day due to its high glucomannan content.
Producers expressed that approximately 2.5 million TL in income is obtained from one decare of salep land, emphasizing that this product has great potential both economically and as a natural product.
"WHY DO WE CALL IT GOLD IN THE SOIL? BECAUSE ITS INCOME IS HIGH"
Salep producer Murat Kayacı stated, "This year we are harvesting late due to the cold weather. In previous years, we started in the last week of April. This year it took until May 8. Currently, we have 150,000 salep plants in this area. The reason Kavak salep is preferred is that it is a mountainous region, so the glucomannan content is very high. Since there is not much cultivated land in Kavak, most of the uncultivated lands are salep. The price per kilogram is currently between 2,500 and 3,000 TL. We call it 'gold in the soil' because its income is high. There are 150,000 salep plants in one decare of land. That amounts to 1 ton of salep, which is worth 2.5 million TL," he said.
"WE SHIP TO EVERYWHERE IN TURKEY"
Salep producer Ömer Aktaş stated, "We harvest until mid-May, at the latest until June 15. Because with the rise in temperature, the tubers start to dry out. Therefore, the harvest needs to be done at this time to ensure the continuation of the main tuber's lineage. The preference for Kavak salep is related to its nature and soil. Its nature, with its air and water, has not been spoiled at all. There are more wild plants here. Plants like rosehip and cornel are also present. The price starts from 3,000 TL per kilogram. We ship to every part of Turkey," he said.
"THIS PLACE HAS TURNED INTO A PRODUCTION BASE"
Prof. Dr. Ömer Çalışkan, a faculty member of the Medical Aromatic Plants Program at Ondokuz Mayıs University Bafra Vocational School, stated, "Samsun has a special place for salep orchids. There are very different ecological regions up to 1,500 meters above sea level. This has reflected on plant diversity. There are over 20 types of salep in general in Samsun. This diversity provides an advantage in production. We have tried to propagate all of these species by planting them in the field using the digging and planting method. We have succeeded with 5 of them. This place has turned into a production base. Salep seedlings and salep seeds are being transported from here to Turkey. When asked where salep seedlings can be obtained from anywhere in Turkey, Samsun has become a brand. We have such an advantage," he said. The harvest festival ended with the offering of salep drink.
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