Fruit yields have decreased, prices have exploded

Economic Service

In Antalya, the country's fruit and vegetable warehouse, the amount of products that were damaged by the frost disaster decreased and prices exploded. According to the May market index announced by the Antalya Chamber of Commerce, the most severe supply loss in the last 10 years was experienced, especially in fruit. The producer, who had to cut down their trees due to cost increases and lack of water, was hit by agricultural frost this season.

The amount of fruit traded in Antalya markets in May decreased by 61.92 percent compared to the same month last year. This was recorded as the biggest decrease in the last 10 years. In the same period, the fruit price index increased by 93.50 percent. It was recorded that the main reason for the price increase was the serious contraction in production.

The picture is similar for vegetables. There was a 25.85 percent decrease in the amount of vegetables on an annual basis, while prices increased by 41.16 percent. While the amount of tomatoes decreased by 2.68 percent on an annual basis, prices increased by 72.50 percent. The agricultural frost in April further reduced the already limited production. Harvest quantity decreased significantly, especially since serious product losses were experienced in trees during the flowering period. The products most affected by the agricultural frost were grapes, apricots, hazelnuts, apples, nectarines, peaches, almonds and cherries.