As the domestic and international demand for avocado, whose homeland is Mexico, increased, the fruit's production area in Antalya also expanded.
Having a say in the production of fresh vegetables and fruits, Antalya's product variety is increasing every year. In the city, where more than 30 tropical fruits from mango to pineapple, papaya to kumquat, dragon fruit to passiflora are grown, avocado production has increased significantly in recent years.
Both the high economic return of avocado and the increase in demand were decisive in the increase in production. 7 thousand tons of Turkey's avocado production, which is 9 thousand tons, is made in Antalya.
Antalya Agriculture and Forestry Manager Gökhan Karaca said that avocado cultivation in Turkey was first started in Alanya, Gazipaşa and Anamur regions.
Expressing that avocado consumption has increased both in Turkey and in the world in recent years, Karaca stated that the production area in Antalya has increased to 21 thousand decares.
Karaca said that while the farmers are making production plans, they tend to products with high added value and which will be preferred more, Karaca adds, "Avocado production in the city has increased more than 3 times in the last 5 years. Too many avocado seedlings have met with the soil in the orchards. We observe that production will increase in the coming years."
Karaca also said that avocado has entered many diet lists, which is effective in increasing the demand for the product.
Explaining that avocados are grown in the open field, but in some places, production has also begun in greenhouses, Karaca said that productive results have also been obtained in the greenhouses.
Pointing out that the most avocado production in Turkey is in Antalya, Karaca said:
"Currently, two thousand hundred of our farmers are producing avocados economically. There is approximately 9 thousand tons of avocado production in our country and 7 thousand tons of it is grown in Antalya. It is a fruit that is exported but also imported. In this respect, our priority is to meet our own needs. Even though its exports are low, avocados will be an important export product with the rapid increase in production in the coming years."

Avocado ice cream will be registered as a geographical indication
West Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute, Head of Production and Management Department, Dr. Süleyman Bayram said that the commercial value of avocados will increase even more.
Expressing that avocado production in Turkey will reach 30 thousand tons in about 7-8 years, Bayram said, "Avocado is a product with high economic value. At the production point, avocados may rank third after tomatoes and peppers in the Mediterranean region. If avocados become widespread, will be a source of income for farmers".
Tahir Kısaarslan, the founder of the Tropical Fruit Production and Marketing Cooperative, stated that they are working on alternative consumption in avocados, and one of them is ice cream.
Expressing that the avocado ice cream is liked by the consumers, Kısaarslan said that they are working to register the ice cream as a geographical indication.
Kısaarslan noted that they want to ensure the widespread use of avocado in the production of oil, shampoo, and cream, and to bring its seed to the economy.

Source: Anadolu Ajansı