Harvesting and Production Process of Blueberries

Harvesting of Kurşunlu Strawberries Has Started

The harvest of Kurşunlu strawberries, known as the ‘red diamond’ produced in the İnegöl district of Bursa, has begun. The seven-crowned species of strawberries, which are harvested 7 times a year, will continue to be harvested until December. The strawberries, expected to reach a yield of 35 thousand tons on 13 thousand decares of land, are being sold in the field for 35-40 Turkish Liras.

Strawberry Production and Harvest Process

Strawberries, the sole source of livelihood for the neighborhood, are sent to all parts of Turkey. The strawberries, harvested by female workers working for 700 Turkish Liras per day, are being sold in the field for 35-40 Turkish Liras. The first harvest starts at the beginning of May, and the last harvest of the strawberries, which are harvested 7 times, will be in December.

Strawberry Producers’ Dissatisfaction

Sezai Çelik, the President of the İnegöl Chamber of Agriculture, who inspected the strawberry fields, said, ‘The strawberry harvest has started in Kurşunlu Neighborhood. We produce strawberries in our neighboring villages such as Eymir, Çitli, Hasanpaşa, Kınık, Özlüce, but 70% of this is done in Kurşunlu Neighborhood. Therefore, we say this is the center because the beginning is here.’

Çelik stated that strawberry producers are not satisfied with today’s conditions, ‘Strawberry harvest starts in May and continues until the end of November. During this process, when the prices are initially set, they are around 40-50 TL. When strawberries become abundant, the prices drop to around 25 TL. It was the same last year. Our farmers earn more money after August. In September, October, November, when the prices are higher, people earn more money. Today, our strawberry producers are not satisfied with the current conditions. Last year, strawberries were sold at the same price. We have our market here. Trucks leave from here to all parts of the country. Today, they are sold at the same price as last year. Fuel, pesticides, and daily wages of workers especially began to burden the farmers. Today, there are no workers for less than 750 TL here. They also have their meals and additional income. Therefore, it is not like the past. We are going through a slightly difficult production process.’

Production and Export Information

Sezai Çelik, stating that strawberry production is carried out in an area of approximately 13 thousand decares in the region, said, ‘About 11 thousand decares of this are done in Kurşunlu Neighborhood. If our farmers take good care, we produce around 35-40 thousand tons of strawberries in total. An income of around 1 billion 100 million Turkish Liras is obtained in the region. While 500 farmers in Kurşunlu Neighborhood are engaged in this business, around 800 farmers in our surrounding villages also produce strawberries. The seven-crowned species of strawberries start in May and reach maturity in 7 months inside the tunnels we call nylons until the end of November.’

Sezai Çelik, the President of the İnegöl Chamber of Agriculture, stating that strawberries are exported to Europe, Russia, and Georgia, said, ‘Our goal is to export to more countries. We have no problem in that regard. Our only problem is cooling systems. You need to cool them before loading them onto the truck. In that sense, we need it in the region. Also, our market is beginning to not be enough.’