The first cherries of the season were harvested in Manisa. Cherries, which found buyers at 3,500 TL per kilo, are being exported to European countries, especially Russia. The first harvest of the early cherry, described as red gold in Manisa, was made in Sancaklıbozköy Neighborhood. Producers harvested their cherries early in the morning with great effort. Metin Öztürk, the Director of Manisa Agriculture and Forestry Province, stated that they ranked second in Turkey with 46 thousand tons of cherry production, “We are realizing the first cherry harvest of the Northern Hemisphere as of April 13. The agricultural frost disasters we experienced really deeply saddened our farmers and us as the ministry.” he said. “WE ARE NUMBER 1 IN CHERRY PRODUCTION IN THE WORLD, BUT 2ND IN EXPORT” Hayrettin Uçak, President of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, said, “Last year, we realized a 210 million dollar cherry export.” He expressed that the yield was very low last year and while expecting more this year, these cold spells caused a serious loss. We wish all our countrymen well, there is a serious loss. The determinations are still ongoing. We are number 1 in cherry production in the world, but 2nd in exports. This also makes us very happy. We send them mainly to Russia, as well as Italy, Poland, and European countries.” he said. SOLD AT AUCTION 45 kilograms of Kara Bodur (Burlent) cherries harvested from 4 producers’ gardens were brought to the cherry market. It was sold at auction during the ceremony held here. Metin Öztürk, the Director of Manisa Agriculture and Forestry Province, opened the auction with a bid of 1,000 TL, and the kilogram of the first cherry of the Northern Hemisphere went up to 3,200 TL. Hayrettin Uçak, President of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters’ Association, finally set the price at 3,500 TL.