Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Sector Calls for Food Safety

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) declared 2021 the "International Year of Fruits and Vegetables". According to FAO data, Turkey ranks fourth in world vegetable production and fifth in fruit production.

The Association of Agricultural Journalists and Writers (TAGYAD) brought together representatives of the fresh produce sector to highlight the importance of fruits and vegetables for human health, as well as the economic value of the sector worldwide and in Turkey.

Hayrettin Uçak, Chairman of the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, emphasizes that an international manifesto should be prepared for the International Year of Fruits and Vegetables.

"The effects of fruits and vegetables on human health and immunity should be clearly presented on an international platform. An international manifesto should be prepared outlining the effects of fruits and vegetables, their necessity for human health, and daily consumption recommendations. Misconceptions should be corrected. There should be an internationally signed manifesto so that people do not forget it again, and can refer to it when they begin to forget. The prepared manifesto should be disseminated among all humanity by being presented on every possible platform."

Agricultural land must be protected, measures must be taken against urbanization

Hayrettin Uçak, who states that the production, distribution and consumption of fruits, vegetables and all food needed by humanity should be discussed and considered at an international table, says, "The conclusion that will emerge from this table should be international collective wisdom."

"This table should identify errors in the period from food production to consumption and take necessary measures to eliminate them. Fertile agricultural land on Earth should be protected, and measures should be taken to prevent these areas from shifting to industry and housing construction, from being concreted over. All obstacles to people accessing the necessary food should be removed for the healthy living of all people, and work should be done towards a resilient, healthy world. It has been recalled once more that healthy nutrition is the most basic need in our lives, and that agriculture holds strategic importance for food, for people, and for countries."

21% increase in fresh produce exports, 8% in processed products in 2020

Uçak announced that the agriculture sector turned the pandemic period to an advantage with the help of measures taken by the government in March-May of last year, with some agriculture-food sectors experiencing increases of 25-35% in exports.

"In 2020, we achieved a 21% increase in Turkey's fresh produce exports compared to 2019 and achieved USD 2.7 billion in exports. In fruit and vegetable products, a 8% increase compared to the same period in the previous year resulted in export earnings of USD 1.54 billion. As the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, we exported USD 346 million in fresh produce and USD 693 million in fruit and vegetable products in 2020, for a total of USD 1.04 billion. We also exceeded our 2020 export target of USD 1 billion."

Dikili Agricultural Specialization OSB to contribute USD 1 billion to exports

Hayrettin Uçak said, "The Dikili Agricultural Specialization OSB will create an important advantage for our region, our producers, and our exporting companies. With the commissioning of Agricultural Specialization OSBs, I believe that agricultural product exports from the Aegean Region will contribute an additional USD 1 billion to Turkey's total agricultural product exports. Geothermal greenhouse cultivation in Dikili will operate over 2,900 hectares. Here, not only tomatoes but also high-value products such as strawberries, peaches, apricots, nectarines, plums and tropical fruits will be produced and exported."

Food safety project "We Know the Pesticides We Use"

Referring to the "We Know the Pesticides We Use" project launched by the Aegean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association in 2021 to draw attention to "Food Safety", Uçak continued his remarks as follows:

"The project concerns the analysis of pesticides at the producer stage for products with high export volumes: seedless table grapes, cherries, pomegranates, peaches, mandarins, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers and vine leaves. We will collect samples of these products from regions where production is intense and have them analyzed in accredited laboratories. After the analysis, we will determine which pesticides are used in which products and in what quantities. Based on these results, we will be able to learn to what extent we are meeting the desired MRL (Maximum Residue Limit) values for our largest market, the European Union, Russia and the health of our 83 million citizens, whether banned pesticides are being used, and we will provide necessary information to both our producers and exporters on this matter."

Producers must be educated

Uçak also stressed that losses reaching 30% of yield are experienced in many products during harvest, and producers should be informed before harvesting each product.

"Awareness on this issue has increased somewhat recently, which is an encouraging development. Project calls aimed at preventing waste and losses have begun to increase, and the interest and awareness of institutions and organizations on the issue have visibly increased. As Aegean Exporters Associations, we also have projects that we support in this area. It is important to bring technology to our side in this regard, but the most important thing is education and awareness-raising."

TAGYAD Chairman İsmail Uğural said, "As the Association of Agricultural Journalists and Writers (TAGYAD), we are aware of the growing importance of the fruit and vegetable sector both in the world and in Turkey. In this context, we came together with leading representatives of the sector in our country. From now on, we will continue to support the fruit and vegetable sector on every occasion."

Sector Board Chairman of Turkey Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Associations Ali Kavak, Istanbul Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Chairman Melisa Tokgöz Mutlu, and Mediterranean Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association Chairman Nejdat Sin also made assessments regarding the sector.