In Ordu, brown marmorated stink bug has hit the hazelnuts.

Due to the brown marmorated stink bug seen in the coastal areas of Ordu, producers are either unable to sell their hazelnuts or are selling them at prices that have dropped to 60 lira.
The brown marmorated stink bug continues to cause damage to hazelnuts, which are the most important source of livelihood in the Black Sea Region and are produced the most in Ordu province. Hazelnut producers in the coastal districts of the province report significant damage to their crops.

They pick their hazelnuts repeatedly under temperatures reaching 30 degrees
Producers are trying to separate their rotten hazelnuts from the good ones under the heat of 30 degrees to be able to sell them at a high price due to the damage caused by the brown marmorated stink bug. They express difficulties in selling their hazelnuts depending on the region, with some greengrocers not buying at all and others offering low prices.

“We are sorting to prevent people from getting poisoned, we are at a loss”
Hazelnut producer Emine Telci stated that they are trying to sort out the hazelnuts damaged by the brown marmorated stink bug, aiming to sell their hazelnuts at a high price this way. Telci said, “The damage is significant; we threw away 2 cans of hazelnuts from 500 kilograms. We need to sort them because it can poison people, and it would be shameful for us to sell them. Therefore, we are trying to clean the damaged hazelnuts. There is a lot of damage in some places. We heard that greengrocers are sending back the hazelnuts they received. A friend of ours had their hazelnuts returned to the pile; the damage is that great. We gathered workers and paid 1,500 TL per person. Right now, we are at a loss.”

“They want to buy hazelnuts cheaply”
Makbule Dere, who lives in Efirli Neighborhood in Perşembe district, said that this year hazelnuts have caused them a lot of distress. Dere said, “They named it the brown marmorated stink bug, and it continues that way. Now greengrocers are also buying at very low prices; what will we do now? We are waiting for help from our state officials on this matter. Hazelnut greengrocers are dropping prices significantly; some are dropping to 40 lira, saying ‘it has been hit by the stink bug’, so we are very distressed. There is no bitterness or stain in our hazelnuts; thus, greengrocers want to buy the hazelnuts cheaply and say, ‘we will make oil’. If oil is to be made, that is fraud. They will make oil from the bitter hazelnuts they buy and poison people. I call out to our state again; there is fraud here.”

“I sold my cow to pay the workers’ wages; now I am the one suffering”
Makbule Dere mentioned that they have the 2024 hazelnut crop left in their hands and said, “A worker’s daily wage is 1,500 TL. I sold my cow in the barn to be able to pay the workers’ wages so that they do not suffer, but now I am the one who has suffered.”

“We have neighbors selling hazelnuts for 60 lira”
Yılmaz Telci, a hazelnut producer in Efirli Neighborhood, said, “The stink bug situation in our region started in September 2023. Since then, we have done as much spraying as we could, but it has not been effective. As a result, the yield and quality of hazelnuts have decreased. Despite this, the purchase prices of hazelnuts have dropped. Right now, there is a significant problem. The high labor costs have also affected us; this year, hazelnuts are completely damaged. My hazelnuts yielded a 45 quality score, but some have even yielded as low as 30. The market started at 115 lira in greengrocers, then fell to 110 lira. I sold mine for 99 lira, but some of our neighbors sold for as low as 60 lira.”