Gentle winter boosts Turkish fig 2026 outlook

Exporting company EREN is setting the stage for a standout Turkish fig season. The firm anticipates a superior-sized, high-quality fresh crop. With eyes on markets across Europe, North America, and Asia, the company is ready to deliver its finest harvest yet.

A mild winter has proven to be the perfect catalyst for growth, Ömer Faruk, marketing specialist at EREN, told FreshFruitPortal.com.

“Compared to last year, orchard conditions are more positive. Current observations show good sizing, strong quality, and healthy fruit condition across both key varieties,” Faruk explained. “We are closely monitoring the orchards as harvest approaches to ensure the same consistency from the field to the final shipment”.

The season will most likely begin with Tarsus Black figs from the Mersin-Tarsus region around the second week of July, Faruk noted. It is then expected to transition to Bursa Black figs, with availability from mid-August through October. 

The company said it continues to source from multiple growing regions across the country to manage differences in harvest timing and climate conditions.

“This approach helps us select fruit at the right maturity and maintain more consistent quality throughout the campaign,” Faruk added.

Türkiye remains the world’s largest fig producer, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, accounting for over a quarter of the world’s total output.

Turkish figs: A labor of love and care

As exporters face rising input costs, the company remains focused on maintaining quality standards and long-term customer relationships.

“Energy, labor, and logistics costs have all increased, and no exporter is immune to it,” Faruk said. “Understanding both the realities of production in Türkiye and the expectations of our international customers is an important part of our planning”.

Faruk said the firm handles all Turkish fig exports by air cargo because of the fruit’s sensitivity and short shelf life.

“Our cooperation with growers starts well before the harvest period. Seasonal programs are planned in advance, and expectations are shared clearly from the beginning,” Faruk explained. “Harvest timing, packing schedules, and logistics planning are coordinated together to create a smoother process throughout the season”.

To protect product condition during long-haul shipments, EREN uses frozen gel packs and insulated blanket systems for airfreight movements and monitors temperatures during road transport with two separate data loggers.

“The goal is simple: maintaining the quality that starts in the orchard all the way until the product reaches the customer,” Faruk said.

From Türkiye to the world

While Europe remains a core destination for Turkish figs, EREN continues to serve customers in North America and Asia, markets that have shown growing interest in premium fruit.

Faruk said the company has supplied customers in both regions for many years through its broader product portfolio and views fresh figs as a natural extension of those established relationships.

To secure quality standards, the company conducts regular leaf, soil, and water analyses, as well as monitoring weather conditions.

“European retail standards and supermarket requirements are important benchmarks that we understand well, and our processes are designed to meet these expectations,” he said.

*All photos courtesy of Ömer Faruk | EREN.

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