According to Ismail Yilmaz, who serves as the President of the Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Association, carnations remain Turkey's primary export item for the flower industry. However, in recent years, they have expanded their offerings and begun exporting other varieties.
Turkiye, home to a wealth of endemic plant species, has its flower industry bolstering the economy through the domestic and international sale of its flowers. The sector, which primarily exports carnations, has assessed the demand in the international markets and shifted towards alternative products. In addition to producing carnations, the sector that operates year-round in greenhouses and highlands has started to cultivate over 10 varieties of flowers.
Yilmaz, who is the President of the Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Association, informed the press that the sector experienced a successful year in exports. Yilmaz indicated that they reached 137 million USD in exports during the first 10 months of the year and supplied products cultivated in Turkiye to 80 countries, highlighting that carnations made up a significant part of this amount.
Yilmaz explained that carnations are produced in various colors in Turkiye based on demand and noted that they have recently begun to consider alternative varieties in addition to carnations.
Yilmaz indicated that the industry produces based on demand, and continued: "While our main export product is still carnations, we have begun to export various other types over the past 3-4 years. Every day, the export of these is on the rise. Hyacinths, in particular, have emerged as a significant product with growing exports over the past few years. Additionally, we have begun to increase the quantity of greenery used as a green filling material.
Yilmaz stated that they have also increased the production and export of flower species, including ruscus, eucalyptus, asparagus virgatus, sunflower, gerbera, gypsophila, lisianthus, and chrysanthemum. Yilmaz highlighted that the greater assortment of products has had a beneficial impact on exports, and remarked that buyers seeking flowers other than carnations can readily locate what they desire. According to Yilmaz, in Turkiye, the production of cut flowers occurs on around 550 hectares of land, outdoor plants on 3,700 hectares, and indoor plants on 500 hectares.
Source: AA
