Turkey's Antalya a Rising Star in Fresh Produce Exports

You might already know that Antalya is an incredibly popular holiday destination to thousands of tourists. But did you know that the city has become a rising star in fresh produce exports? In 2010 Turkey's Antalya joined "Billion Club" as the total value of exports reached $ 1 billion in agricultural exports. In 2013 the Mediterranean city's exports of fruits and vegetables increased by 12 percent. As we see that the city has given priority to agricultural development in the course of the recent years, and thus the city has been gradually climbing in the agriculture rankings.

Basing on these figures, today the city is at the top of Turkey's sector in citrus production and greenhouse cultivation primarily thanks to its huge potential, highly-qualified labor force and rich resources. As result, year by year citrus has been exported successfully to many countries of the world. The destination countries include: Russia, Germany and Ukraine. Recently, Turkey's neighbor Iraq is becoming one of the top export destinations for the production of Mediterranean province.

These export figures are achieved mainly because of increases in fruit and vegetable productions that constitute half of the city's total exports. Antalya exporters consider that the city can do even more, to make its name heard throughout the global exports.

The Government, through the ministry of Agriculture, is working on strategies for local producers to achieve further increases in exports of the region. The sector is flourishing with new investments. For example, in 2012 Antalya’s farmers received $40 million of state fund.

Taking into account the region's international experience in the tourism industry, it can easily adjust itself to new trends prevailing in the world of export.

Today Germany is Turkey’s largest export market . One of the country’s goals is to reach USD 500 billion in exports by the centenary of the foundation of the republic in 2023. For successful implementation of this strategy, Turkey has to increase its export output by 12% annually.