The Ordu kiwi is expected to contribute approximately 300 million TL to the region’s economy.

In Ordu, the harvest of kiwifruit, produced to provide additional income alongside hazelnuts, has begun. With an expected yield of approximately 8,600 tons in 2024, it is aimed to contribute around 300 million TL to the Ordu economy.

Ordu Governor Muammer Erol participated in the kiwifruit harvest in the garden of a producer named Tarık Tercan in the Kökenli neighborhood of the Altınordu district. Accompanied by Altınordu District Governor Erkan Karahan, Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz, and Altınordu Chamber of Agriculture President Atakan Akça, Governor Muammer Erol wished good luck to the garden owner and workers harvesting kiwifruit, expressing hopes for abundant and prosperous yields.

“Efforts are ongoing to increase kiwifruit production”

In a statement during the kiwifruit harvest, Ordu Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Kemal Yılmaz said, “Kiwifruit cultivation holds a significant place among additional income-generating products alongside hazelnuts in our province. Kiwifruit has been cultivated in our region for about 30 years due to the intense efforts of our professional elders in the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. At that time, kiwifruit was grown in relatively small areas, but today these small areas have been replaced by larger modern kiwifruit orchards. Particularly, our orchards located on the coast and in the middle regions provide serious income to our producers. Kiwifruit is a product with high unit area yield and no market problems. Especially in kiwifruit cultivation, where initial establishment costs are high, our Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry provides support to our producers, and efforts are underway to increase kiwifruit production,” he stated.

“It is aimed to contribute 300 million TL to the Ordu economy”

Yılmaz expressed that, using both ministerial and local resources, approximately 1,000 decares of new modern kiwifruit orchards have been established in the last 5 years, increasing the kiwifruit areas in the province to 3,914 decares, stating, “Our yield, which varies from year to year, is expected to be approximately 8,600 tons in 2024. This yield will provide approximately 300 million TL to our province’s economy this year. With the full productivity of our new orchards, it is aimed for our yield to exceed 12,000 tons.” He emphasized that the Ordu Kiwifruit, which received geographical indication in 2019 through the initiatives of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, stands out with its unique aroma and long shelf life, and he also pointed out that care should be taken to avoid early harvesting.

Kiwifruit producer Tarık Tercan stated that he decided to grow kiwifruit 4 years ago, producing 3 tons of kiwifruit on an area of 5 decares, with a target of 20 tons.