Fruit production could not meet demand

While the production map is changing in the fruit juice industry, which has gained great momentum both in Turkey and in the world with the pandemic, Turkey aims to export $500 million this year in response to the melting volume. In Turkey, where an average of 11 liters of fruit juice is consumed per person, the price of fruit juice, which was 16 lira last year, increased to 25 TL this year, and it is claimed that the price increases They occur every 3 months due to food inflation and have decreased to 5-month periods.

ONE MILLION FARMERS

The president of the Fruit Juice Industry Association (MEYED), Ozan Diren, stated that the fruit juice industry buys fruit from one million farmers in Turkey and that there may be a supply shortage of certain products from time to time. from time to time: “The demand for fruit juice has increased in the world because it strengthens the immune system. In fact, there was a global supply shortage in the sector. When countries like China started producing rice instead of fruits, a problem arose. in this area. This also increased demand from Turkey. Last year we exceeded 450 million dollars in exports. This year we will reach 500 million dollars. “There is a decrease of 11 to 12 percent in the volume of exports of the sector, but we subsidize it with the price in terms of value.

Noting that agriculture also depends on climatic conditions and that there was a period when certain products were scarce and others abundant, Diren stated that domestic demand, which was low in the first six months, began to increase in the second half . Diren stated that the rapid price increases over the past two years have slowed somewhat, saying: “In 2024, prices will continue in parallel with inflation. Now the pace of price increases has slowed. For example, if the price increased every 3 months last year, this year it increased every 4 or 5 months. “Currently there is a shortage of supply and an increase in demand,” he said.

Ozan Diren

Inflation must be eliminated

Ozan Diren stated that his company, which began its activities with wine production in Tokat, produces fruit juice like Dimes, and noted that they bought from 65 thousand farmers and will close this year with a turnover of 5 billion Turkish liras. Drawing attention to exports in his assessments of the Turkish economy, Diren said: “It is important that the fight against inflation continues. Inflation is an issue that must be eliminated for both consumers, companies and the country. “This period appears to be fraught with further parameter changes,” he said.