Following the frost warning in Adana, producers have started to harvest their tangerines. Harvesting has gained momentum throughout the city, with tangerines being sold in the garden at prices ranging from 14 to 19 lira, depending on the variety. The tangerine harvest, which started in October in Adana, one of Turkey’s most important agricultural production centers, continues. Currently, the Ortanik and W. Murcott varieties of tangerines are being harvested throughout the city, with the harvest accelerating due to the three-day anticipated frost. Workers entering the orchards in the 379 thousand acres of tangerine production are hand-picking the fruits and loading them onto trucks and trailers. Ortanik tangerines, sent to both domestic and external markets, are being sold in the garden at prices ranging from 14 to 15 lira per kilogram, while W. Murcott tangerines are finding buyers at prices between 17 and 19 lira in the garden.

Last year, an average of 1 million tons of tangerines were harvested, but now an average of 2 tons per acre are being harvested in the orchards. This year, an average of 500 thousand tons of tangerines are expected to be harvested. Mehmet Akın Doğan, President of the Yüreğir Chamber of Agriculture, stated that tangerines are being exported to Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine, saying:
“There is a frost expected for 3 days in Adana. As the citrus products are also nearing the end, farmers and traders are quickly harvesting. Due to the lack of labor shortage, the harvest is progressing rapidly. Currently, the fruit being harvested is being sent to Iraq, primarily, as well as Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Ukraine. The cost of sending these tangerines to Iraq is 10 lira. However, the selling price of W. Murcott tangerines is 14-15 lira in the garden. There is still a 15-day harvesting period left for W. Murcott.”