19.10.2022 Problems of Olive and Olive Oil Sector Discussed at Aydın Commodity Exchange

2022/2023 Season Olive and Olive Oil Sector Meeting was held at Aydın Commodity Exchange.

Aydın Commodity Exchange Assembly Speaker A. Bahri Erdel, Chairman Fevzi Condur, Aegean Olive and Olive Oil Exporters' Association Vice Chairman M. Kadri Gundes, Aydın Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Deputy Ahmet Okdem, Chambers/Commodity Exchanges Chairmen, Chamber of Agriculture Chairmen and sector agencies attended to the 2022/2023 Season Olive and Olive Oil Sector Meeting which held by Aydın Commodity Exchange.

At the olive and olive oil sector meeting held at Aydın Commodity Exchange Conference Hall, consultations were held on the problems faced by the members in the sector and the issues they demanded.

Making an opening speech Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Condur, stated that olive and olive oil production is one of the most important agricultural activities in our country and that provides significant added value the economy of our province, added that Aydın province ranks 1st Turkey olive oil production. 

Fevzi Condur said, 9 of the olive tree presence allocated to table in Turkey is located in our province and 10.6% of the table olive production in  our country is met from our province. In 2021, 555 thousand 833 tons of table olive production was realized in our country. Approximately 59 thousand tons of this production belongs to our province. 15% of tree presence allocated to olive oil in Turkey is located in our province and 19% of Turkey's olive oil production belongs to our province. 

Mr. Condur stated that a total of 179 million 35 thousand dollars of olive oil in our country and 172 million 554 thousand dollars of exports were realized in table olives through the season of  2021/2022 and added Aydın province has contributed about $5 million in olive oil and about $31 million in olive to our country. 

''While approximately 32 thousand tons of table olives were traded in Aydın Commodity Exchange through 2021-2022 season, the average price was 13 liras 17 kurus. 18 thousand tons of olive oil was traded on Aydın Commodity Exchange last year and the avarege sales price was 45 liras 23 kurus.'' expressed by Chairman Fevzi Condur.

Stating that Aydın Commodity has carried out important studies in order to increase the awareness and branding of agricultural products in our country and in the world, Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Condur gave information Protected Designation of Origin they have registered such as Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı, Aydın Memecik Zeytini ve Aydın Yamalak Sarısı Zeytini. Mr. Condur figured European Union PDO of Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı on 24 September 2021 and Aydın Memecik Zeytini on 12 November 2021 has been realized. Chairman added that Aydın Commodity Exchange aims to increase the number of registered products of Aydın around European Union to 4 by registered these products in the European Union as soon as possible.

''In order to introduce Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı and to explain the distinctive features of correct and high quality olive oil, Aydın Commodity Exchange with Tasting Panalists organized the taste and promotion days. We carried out those activities in 31 provincial up to till now.'' stated by Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Condur.

Stating that Aydın Commodity Exchange exhibited a selfless work in order to create public opinion for many problems, suggestions and demands of the sector, Mr. Condur pointed out the demands for the lifting of the export ban on bulk and barreled olive oil by ensuring that this wrong practice is reversed. The meetings with the competent authorities to resolve this issue, which has come to the agenda again. As a result, the restriction on olive oil exports was lifted on July 7, 2022 with the communique published in the Official Gazette. Mr. Condur added that by organizing the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of our province we published joint press declaration due to the fact that the import of olive oil, which is among the agricultural products exported by our country. ''Olive Law; we conveyed our thoughts on the decision published in the Official Gazette to the competent authorities and informed them that Olive Law would adversely affect the production, which are one of the most important sources of livelihood of our province and provide significant foreign exchange returns into mining activities to our country's economy. The result was in our favor and that made our producers confident. We conveyed to our ministry that companies that not only produce but also sell counterfeit and adulterated products should be held responsible.

Aydın Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Director Ahmet Okdem made an assessment as to the table olive data and supports in Aydın province. 

Stating that a total olive field of 154 thousand hectares in Aydın province and a total of 1 million 739 thousand tons of olive and table production was realized in our country last year, Mr. Okdem said that olive cultivation is carried out in approximately 154 thousand hectares of land in our province. According to the data of 2021, our province has 13% of olive trees in our country and 17% of olive area with the presence of approximately 25 milllion trees. Last year, olive production in our province was realized as a total of 288 thousand tons, of which approximately 59 thousand tons were table and 229 thousand tons were oil. Organic production is carried out in 18% of the area where olive cultivation is done in our city.

Mr. Okdem added that with the support payments were made in our province, including 99 tons of olive oil  and 22.196,00 tons of table olive in 2021. There are 273 oil mills and filling facilities operating in our city. Of the 174 oil mills, 60 of 4 oil mills operate in 2 phases and 114 in 3 phases. Although our city ranks first in Turkey with olive oil production, it has caught up with world standards in olive oil quality with the effect of many factors such as harvest time, pressing techniques and storage. While 230 inspections were carried out in 2021 to the olive and olive oil enterprises in our province, 53 samples were taken. This year, the number of audits carried out on olive oil enterprises is 207 and the number of olive oil saples taken is 62. Within the scope of the Orchard Development Projects, 50 thounsand 200 pieces of delice variety have been vaccinated in Söke and Kocarlı districts in the last 3 years. Mr. Okdem said that the yield expectation for this year is around 425 thousand tons.

T.R. Agriculture and Forestry Ministry, Branch Director of Aydın Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Crop Production and Phitosanitary Aydın Celik and Branch Director of Food and Forage Figen Sezer Koksal attended as speakers to the II.Session, realised by Aydın Commodity Exchange Chairman Fevzi Condur.

The olive and olive oil were discussed with the members at the meeting, where the steps to be taken and the measures to be taken at the point of solving the problems experienced through the meeting.

The sector representative, who decided to act jointly for the solution of all problems, exchanged ideas on the carrying out of studies on the issues.