The harvest of ‘yellow gold’ has started in Iğdır, the Cukurova of the East

Apricot harvest has begun in Iğdır, the pearl of Eastern Anatolia, with the warming weather and ripening of the fruit. Just like every year, apricot producers in the region are hoping for a fruitful season. Known as the ‘Cukurova of the East’ with its climate and geographical conditions, Iğdır continues to contribute significantly to the economy with its agricultural areas. The apricot harvest, which is one of the region’s important economic incomes and known as the ‘yellow gold’ in the city, has started. The climate and soil conditions of Iğdır play a crucial role in determining the taste and quality of apricots. On the first day of this year’s harvest, producers have carefully started picking the apricots from their orchards. Throughout the harvest season, apricot picking activities will continue in the villages and rural areas around Iğdır. Producers have mentioned that consuming freshly picked apricots will provide a great taste. Ahmet Savaş, an apricot trader in Iğdır, stated, ‘Every year in April, we start collecting apricots from the orchards. We begin the harvest in the first week of June. This year, the apricot harvest started early. We used to harvest around 40 thousand tons annually. This year, it has decreased to 20 to 25 thousand tons. The products we collect are exported to countries like Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Poland, and also supplied to the domestic market. The apricot of Iğdır is unique in the world.’ Addressing the ongoing competition between Malatya and Iğdır apricots, Savaş explained, ‘Malatya apricots are for drying purposes, while Iğdır apricots are for fresh consumption. The aroma of Iğdır apricots is unmatched. We are up for any competition.’ Savaş also mentioned that prices have dropped due to the holiday, stating, ‘Before the holiday, the price of apricots was between 30 to 35 Turkish Lira. It has slightly decreased now, and we expect prices to rise after the holiday.’ Cevdet Demirbaş, who came from Van with his family to pick apricots in Iğdır, said, ‘We came from Van with 24 people. I have been coming here for three years. We handle the fruit picking from the trees delicately. We package the products in four qualities here and send them to the warehouse for sale.’