Dried Figs: summer to prove decisive

Mundus-Agri: While excessive heat and dryness impacted Turkey's dried fig production last year, the growers are busy irrigating the trees. Summer is particularly decisive for the development of the fruits.

Growers rely on irrigation.

The weather is warm in Turkey, and the growers are still busy irrigating the trees in Aydin. Prospects are highly encouraging since production should rise by 7% to 80,000 mt. As July and August are decisive and rain may impact drying in September, it is, however, too early for reliable estimates. Last year's excessive heat even affected the quality of the figs. Exports typically start at the end of September or in the first week of October. 

Weekly exports higher than last year

Although exports are doing well, they still lag behind last year. Turkey shipped 1,166 mt of dried figs and related products overseas the previous week, which is upon the 614 mt shipped overseas in the same week last year. Total exports, however, only range at 54,556 mt as the current season started two weeks later than last year.