19 October 2025 Sunday

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

01.09.2025 Aydın Commodity Exchange on Alert for Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin in Dried Figs

01.09.2025 Aydın Commodity Exchange on Alert for Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin in Dried Figs

At the "2025-2026 Season Dried Fig Toxin Meeting," hosted by the Aydın Commodity Exchange, producers, traders, and warehousekeepers were informed about the aflatoxin and ochratoxin problems observed in dried figs.

The "2025-2026 Season Dried Fig Toxin Meeting," held at the Aydın Commodity Exchange Conference Hall, was widely attended by industry stakeholders. The meeting emphasized Turkey's leading position in dried fig production and export, and provided information to producers, traders, and warehousekeepers about aflatoxin and ochratoxin, which are among the product's biggest risks.

The meeting was attended by Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur, Aydın Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Ayhan Temiz, Aydın Commodity Exchange Management, Chamber of Agriculture executives, producers, traders, and warehousekeepers. It was emphasized that producers should not dry figs on the ground but should carefully select them to combat aflatoxin and ochratoxin problems. Traders were also advised to store their products in crates. The importance of establishing a darkroom or examining figs with a portable violet light to identify toxin-containing figs, and separating out puffy figs, was also emphasized. Identifying and reporting those engaged in unregistered storage to the Treasury was among the key issues discussed at the meeting, and it was emphasized that exporters should avoid purchasing from unregistered fig warehouses.

 

Fifty percent of the fig harvest is complete

In the opening remarks, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Çondur thanked Aydın Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry Ayhan Temiz, despite being newly appointed to the province, for his close attention to the toxin issue immediately upon taking up his position. Çondur stated that the harvest for the 2025-2026 fig season had reached 50 percent, adding: “Although the harvest is halfway through, we are still experiencing trade difficulties. Our exporters suffered last year due to toxin problems, so they are cautious this year. Fig purchases have still not begun. We recently held a meeting with the Aegean Dried Fruit and Products Exporters' Association regarding this matter. Exporters say they will purchase products, but they want producers to be more meticulous in sorting and selecting. We are all in the same boat; producers, traders, and business owners must act together. Last year's toxin-related return issues have also affected this season.”

"We shouldn't produce our unique product without control."

Çondur emphasized that Turkey is the world's largest fig producer and exporter, saying, "Both production and trade are in our hands. But we shouldn't produce this uniquely us product without control. We must be careful about fig classification and preservation. We are trying to create added value for figs through traders and exporters. Producers need to be educated and inspected with the support of our Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and our Chambers of Agriculture. We expect assistance from the Aydın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry in this regard."

Everyone must contribute.

Çondur stated that dried fig exports, currently at $1,400-1,500 per ton, have risen to over $6,000. "Our goal is to reach $10,000," he said. "However, to achieve this goal, everyone, from producers to consumers, must contribute. First and foremost, quality must begin in the orchard with the producer. Producers must separate toxin-containing and puffy figs. Figs should be stored in crates, not on the ground. Exporters will receive the product only after aflatoxin control and puffy fig separation are completed."

"We must register uncontrolled warehouses."

Ayhan Temiz, Aydın Provincial Director of Agriculture and Forestry, emphasized that figs are Aydın's most important product, saying: "We alone account for 56 percent of the country's production. However, one of our biggest problems is aflatoxin and ochratoxin. Storage conditions are critical. We are informing producers and warehousekeepers about this issue. Because drying conditions are crucial, we have distributed figs with the exporters' associations. We have 254 registered warehouses, but unregistered warehouses pose a serious risk. You can report unregistered locations to us. These must be registered. The product coming from unregistered warehouses is completely uncontrolled. There are requests to increase the frequency of inspections in existing warehouses, implement darkrooms, and conduct selection processes. We will forward this request to our Ministry. Selection and handling are only carried out at the final stage at the business level. Selection is not completed until that stage. If everyone handles the product, from the initial producer to the final exporter, the problem will be solved."

TMEX
TOBB
COMPETITION AUTHORITY
REPUBLIC OF TÜRKİYE  MINISTRY OF TRADE
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry