The chestnut harvest has started in the town of Ödemiş in Izmir. Farmers expect a higher yield compared to last year and mentioned that the harvest will last for 2.5 months.

Chestnuts, which are produced an average of 5-6 thousand tons annually in Kemer Village at an altitude of 1161 meters in the town, are exported to the Middle East and European countries in addition to the domestic market. Farmers who go to orchards to collect the early ripe black graft variety, which is the main source of income for the village, go through a challenging harvest period. Chestnut cones dropped by workers climbing tall trees with poles are bagged and buried in wells to separate the fruits.

WILL LAST FOR 2.5 MONTHS Following the harvest of the black graft variety in the village, the harvest process will continue with the yellow graft (sugar) and bellombol (wood) varieties for approximately 2.5 months. Ahmet Kocaağa, the President of the Ödemiş Chamber of Agriculture, stated that the chestnuts grown in the region are preferred for their taste and size, and that steps have been taken towards branding in recent years. Kocaağa, who said, “This year, both the quality and yield of our chestnuts are high,” expressed his hope for prices to be at the expected level and for farmers to have a profitable year.