The cold hit the greenhouses, all products increased their prices!

The extreme cold experienced in Antalya in the last week slowed down the ripening of products in greenhouses. There were serious increases in prices due to low yields. The lowest tomato price in Antalya, which was 15 TL on February 14, increased by 100 percent to 30 TL.

The snowfall and severe cold experienced throughout Turkey, especially in the last week, also hit Antalya, the center of greenhouse production. Due to the extreme cold and frost danger, farmers lit stoves every night in greenhouses in Antalya and the Mediterranean coast to prevent production from being damaged, and tried to protect the products from the cold. However, severe cold and frost events negatively affected many producers. Since the extreme cold also significantly slowed down the ripening and growth of the products in the greenhouse, the harvest amount decreased. The great difficulty experienced in supplying the product to the market was also reflected in the prices. The lowest tomato price in Antalya, which was 15 TL on February 14, increased by 100 percent to 30 TL.

THE EFFECT OF THE COLD WILL REFLECT ON THE MARKET

Stating that adverse weather conditions affect agricultural production, especially fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flower production, Antalya Chamber of Commerce (ATB) President Ali Çandır noted that cold weather causes product yields to decrease and harvest times to extend. Çandır said that the amount of product supplied will decrease due to weather conditions and that price increases will be inevitable during this period. Çandır said, "There are no mass frost damage reports in our city so far. Although cold-related damages are observed in citrus groves and tropical fruits, weather conditions in the coming months will be decisive."

COLD PREVENTS BROWNING

Antalya market tradesman ATB and Western Mediterranean Exporters Association Board Member Cüneyt Doğan shared the wholesale market product price lists of Antalya Wholesale Market Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Commissioners Association for February 14-26. Stating that there was not much damage to tomatoes due to the 1-week cold, but the product harvest decreased significantly, Cüneyt Doğan said, "Tomatoes could not turn red in greenhouses due to the cold. This is generally true for all products. They could not grow or ripen. Cold slows down the reddening and ripening of tomatoes. It may recover after a week or 10 days when the weather gets warmer. Export is also important here, cheaper goods were coming from other countries. We do not know if the cold was effective there, market prices will settle accordingly."

PRICE CHANGES

The changes in prices between February 14 and February 26 at the Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Wholesale Market of the Antalya Wholesale Market Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Commissioners Association occurred as follows:

"The lowest price of tomatoes, which was 15 TL on February 14, increased by 100 percent to 30 TL, and the upper limit price, which was 20 TL, increased to 33 TL. Cocktail tomatoes, which were 30-35 TL in terms of lower and upper limits, increased to 45-50 TL on February 26 after the cold weather. Pointed peppers increased from 53 TL to 62 TL, peppers with hair from 70 TL to 90 TL, peppers with bones from 80 TL to 100 TL. Charlie peppers increased from 45 TL to 50 TL. Bell peppers increased from 42 TL to 65 TL. Village peppers with noses increased from 55 TL to 90 TL. Capia peppers became 60 TL from 50 TL. Eggplants from 45 TL to 60 TL, zucchinis from 27 TL to 37 TL, cucumbers from 37 TL to 45 TL. "It increased to 43 TL."