Turkish cherries

Turkey's Fresh Vegetable and Fruit Exporters Association (TYMSIB) has announced this week that exports of fresh fruits and vegetables have climbed through the first nine months of 2010, up 5 per cent in volume terms and 15 per cent in value.

Fresh vegetable exports grew 6 per cent in volume and 16 per cent in value through the January-September period, with a turnover of US$585.5bn (€416m), Anatolia News Agency reported.

Tomatoes led the way in Turkey's vegetable category with exports standing at US$5.1m (€3.6m), with large volumes of peppers, cucumbers and onions also shipped.

Exports of fresh fruits reached US$853.6m (€606m), according to TYMSIB, led by cherries at a value of US$150.74m (€107.1m) and followed by table grapes, apricots and strawberries.

'We could reach US$2.25bn through the end of this year,' TYMSIB chairman Kemal Kaçmaz told Turkish media. 'Turkey is a natural hub of fruit and vegetable production thanks to the country's geographical conditions and ethnological diversity.'