The holiday hit the fields
The nine-day Ramadan Bayram holiday did not bring joy to producers. Over the past week, fruit and vegetable prices have plummeted. At Alanya Wholesale Market, prices dropped by 80% to 100%.
The holiday did not benefit farmers. The closure of wholesale markets in major cities during the holiday prevented farmers from selling their products, leading to a drop in prices. Additionally, market vendors did not open their stalls due to the holiday, temporarily disrupting the supply chain. As consumers completed their holiday shopping in advance, market activity slowed down. After the holiday, rising temperatures accelerated production, pushing prices even lower. The oversupply of greenhouse products further deepened the price decline.
At Alanya Wholesale Market, prices have hit rock bottom. Before the holiday, the price per kilogram of tomatoes was 30 TL, now it has dropped to 25 TL. Cucumbers fell from 42 TL to 15 TL, eggplants from 40 TL to 20 TL, and zucchinis from 30 TL to 20 TL. The abundance of products caused prices to drop by 80% to 100%.
In an exclusive statement to Yeni Alanya, Alanya Chamber of Agriculture President Tahir Göktepe and Alanya Wholesale Market Association President Adem Kaya stated that this price drop will not last long. After the holiday, especially on Monday and Tuesday, as markets resume operations, a price increase in fruits and vegetables is expected. They predict that prices at Alanya Wholesale Market will rise by 50% to 60%.
SIGNIFICANT DROP IN FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRICES
Alanya Wholesale Market Association President Adem Kaya stated:
"Compared to previous weeks, we have seen a significant price drop. There are several reasons for this. As the weather warmed up, production increased. Additionally, due to the holiday, shopping was halted for two to three days. The closure of wholesale markets in major cities also directly impacted prices. However, we expect prices to recover within the next two to three days. For example, last week, eggplants were 45–50 TL, but on Tuesday, the price dropped to 20 TL and remained at that level on Wednesday and Thursday. Cucumbers fell from 42 TL to 15 TL, and tomatoes from 30–35 TL to 20–25 TL. Prices have generally decreased for all products except bananas, which have remained stable due to lower production. Since the holiday ended, we have seen an increase in supply and demand from hotels. We expect even more market activity in the coming weeks."
PRICES HAVE DROPPED BY 80–100%
Alanya Chamber of Agriculture President Tahir Göktepe added:
"Because major wholesale markets in Istanbul and Ankara were closed, and market vendors did not operate during the holiday, consumers stocked up on supplies a week or even ten days in advance. Additionally, warm weather has increased production yields. Many people went on vacation and did not shop for home consumption, causing a drastic price drop—between 80% and 100%. We have been monitoring the situation, and today we discussed it with President Adem. Our prediction is that by Monday and Tuesday, prices will increase by 50–60%, although they will not fully return to previous levels. Right now, farmers are struggling to cover their costs and are facing financial losses. If prices do not increase by at least 50–60%, production will not be sustainable, and the season will end prematurely."
