Antalya is the main producer of aubergines in Turkey and prices in this city have increased by up to 15 lira per kilo. Farmers collected 40 to 50 kilograms of aubergines in a field of 0.1 hectare. The production was lower this season due to bad weather conditions.
In Antalya's wholesale market, tomatoes cost 4.8 lira per kilo (0.80 Euro), kapya peppers (a sweet red Turkish pepper variety) cost 6 to 7 lira (1-1.2 Euro), aubergines cost 11 to 12 lira (1.8 to 2 Euro), cucumbers cost 3 to 4 lira (0.5 to 0.6 Euro) and bell peppers cost 7 lira (1.2 Euro) per kilogram.
Antalya is the center of greenhouse fruits and vegetables production, however even in this city, supermarkets sell aubergines for 15 lira (2.5 Euro) per kilogram. Since prices are too high, consumers usually purchase less than a kilogram. 3 eggplants cost around 5 lira (0.84 Euro).
Antalya's Aksu district is a major producer of aubergines where farmers could only harvest once in 25 days due to cold and rainy weather. Farmers complained about the low productivity this season and said that 40 to 50 kilograms per 0.1 hectare was too little.
Aubergines in the market dropped by 70%
Nevzat Akcan, head of the Antalya Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Wholesalers' Association evaluated the situation and said that the amount of aubergines arriving at the wholesale markets dropped by 70%. "Last year, farmers collected 500 to 600 kilograms per 0.1 hectare, now this is only 50 kilograms. Bad weather conditions played a major role in this. Aubergine prices should decrease again in 2 months. For tomatoes, it will take longer; probably prices will stay high until May. Floods in Hatay and Mersin also affected the production."
Source: Haberler