Turkey's Isparta globalizes with rose oil, cut flower industry
Isparta makes up 65 percent of the world's rose oil production and the rose cultivated in Isparta is exported to 15 countries, most notably France, the U.S., Canada, Japan and Saudi Arabia. This year the rose harvest period took longer due to warmer weather, taking almost two months. According to a report by the International Trade Center (ITC), Turkey's rose oil export has also shown an almost steady rise from 2002 to 2012.
The city also exports cut flowers as locals in the Deregümü village in Isparta grow 30 million branches of cut flowers per season, a large amount of which are exported to the Netherlands, Romania and the U.K. Providing employment to seasonal workers, the area has a relatively cooler environment, enabling the flowers to grow. Locals cultivate cut flowers on an area of 250 hectares, starting from July to December.
Read more at the Daily Sabah