16.07.2025 Aydın Commodity Exchange Participated in “Golden Seeds” Meeting on Figs

This month’s edition of the “Golden Seeds” meeting series, organized by the Istanbul Commodity Exchange (ISTIB) to promote high-value agricultural products, focused on figs. Representing the Aydın Commodity Exchange, Assembly Vice President Ahmet Şenel and Mehmet Çevik, Export Manager of Çevik Gıda Ltd., participated in the event.

Held online, the meeting featured opening remarks by ISTIB Assembly President Ahmet Bülent Kasap and was moderated by Deputy Secretary General İsmail Şen. Speakers included Prof. Dr. Engin Ertan from Aydın Adnan Menderes University, Ahmet Şenel, and exporter Mehmet Çevik, who discussed the fig production and export process.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Ahmet Şenel emphasized figs as a profitable product when cultivated properly, stating that scale remains a major issue. He advocated for the transition to contract farming and professionalized production to enhance standardization and reduce income loss.

• Prof. Dr. Engin Ertan highlighted that minor mistakes in production, such as poor drying or delayed collection of pollination bags, can significantly affect quality. Small improvements can lead to major gains.

• Mehmet Çevik addressed the impact of ochratoxin contamination on fig exports, especially to the EU. He noted that while aflatoxin issues are manageable, ochratoxin remains a serious barrier, causing both economic and reputational damage.

At the conclusion, participants agreed on the need for collaborative strategies to overcome challenges in fig production and export.