ANKARA: Turkey is seeking new markets for exports of fresh produce, which took a hit following the dispute with Russia over downed plane, a Turkish Fresh Produce Union head said Thursday. During a fair called “Fruit Logistica” in Berlin, Mediterranean Fresh Produce Union Chief Ali Kavak addressed the issue.
“We declared a state of emergency in the fresh produce sector. We hope to recover our lost market share with Russia from different countries,” he said, adding that time was necessary to realize that goal. In late November, two Turkish F-16 fighter jets shot down a Russian military plane intruding into Turkish airspace.
After the incident Russia imposed a range of unilateral economic sanctions against Turkey including a ban on food imports. Serafettin Asut, head of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the southern coastal city of Mersin, said Turkish producers realized the mistake of depending on only one market.
“If we had taken part in other markets strategically, we wouldn’t be going through this today,” he said, adding that Fruit Logistica constituted an opportunity to tackle the crisis. Fruit Logistica is an international food fair for the fresh produce industry hosting up to 2,700 companies and around 65,000 visitors.
