The Turkish horticultural industry's hopes of improved access to the Russian market received a boost this week, with the world's largest nation announcing it would allow imports of certain vegetables from nine Turkish suppliers. 

The decision is valid as of today (Sept. 1, 2017) and applies to lettuce, peppers, zucchini and pumpkins from the following companies, under guarantees from Turkey's agricultural authorities:

1. ÇAVAŞ YONCA TARIM - RASİM

2. KOLTARIM ZİRAAT HAYVANCILIK SANAYİ VE TİCARET ANONİM ŞİRKETİ

3. ALİ SEVEROĞLU - SEVEROĞLU TARIM

4. BATI SOĞUK HAVA DEP.TAR.ÜRN.GID.İNŞ. İTHİHR.TİC.VE.SAN.LTD. ŞTİ

5. BAHŞİŞ TARIM TURİZM NAKLİYAT İNŞAAT VE DANIŞMANLIK SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ

6. GÖNKAR TARIM TAŞIMACILIK MADENCİLİK İNŞAAT TEMİZLİK SAN.VE TİC.LTD.ŞTİ

7. Erza Tarim

8. Refik Zaman

9. LİDER GIDA SAN. DIŞ TİC. LTD.ŞTİ  

The announcement did not include the crop that has been at the center of negotiations between the two countries - tomatoes. 

However, TASS has reported that in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV, Russian Minister of Agriculture Alexander Tkachev said Turkey might be given the opportunity to supply small volumes of tomatoes during Russia's off-season.

"I think we will offer the following solutions to the Turkish side: first of all, deliveries of tomatoes in the off-season," Tkachev was quoted as saying.

"There is winter, early spring, when our vegetable growers are no longer able to provide the market with vegetables given the weather conditions.

"I think we will be able to give our colleagues and partners an opportunity to return in small volumes to the Russian market, which will be fair."

Trade relations between the two countries have been strained since Turkey shot down a Russian jet near the Turkish-Syrian border in 2015, with a ban on imports of a range of Turkish agricultural goods subsequently taking place as of January, 2016.

In other news from Russia, Rosselkhoznadzor representatives also recently held teleconference negotiations with Syrian Plant Protection Department Director Fisher Al-Moshref, who expressed interest in resuming exports of peaches, nectarines, apples, pears and cherries to Russia. 

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