First Cherries of Northern Hemisphere Harvest Fetch 6,000 TL Per Kilo in Turkey

Manisa, Turkey – The eagerly anticipated first cherries of the Northern Hemisphere's season have arrived, with the Şehzadeler district of Manisa once again leading the harvest. This early-season crop holds significant importance for both domestic and international markets, and this year's initial yield has commanded a remarkable price at auction.

“

The first cherries of 2026 in the Northern Hemisphere are produced in our Sancaklı İğdecik, Sancaklı Bozköy, Sancaklı Uzunçınar, Karaoğlan neighborhoods. Congratulations to our farmers for their labor.

Farmer Yusuf Bakan made history by bringing the first cherries of 2026 to market. In a symbolic open auction, Bakan sold his prized early-season cherries at an astonishing 6,000 Turkish Lira per kilogram to cherry trader Mesut Altıok. This price, while substantial, reflects the rarity and demand for the very first fruits of the season.

“

We are carrying out the first cherry harvest of the Northern Hemisphere. We wish it to be a fruitful year for our district and our country. Our season is going well. We expect the yield to be high. We are not expecting the negative situations we experienced last year due to frost disaster.

Local officials, including Şehzadeler Deputy Mayor Mümin Yılmaz, celebrated the farmers' hard work and the region's agricultural prowess. Manisa Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Director Assistant Serdar Mersinli expressed optimism for a bountiful harvest, noting that the region is not expecting the frost-related setbacks that impacted the previous year's crop. This suggests a strong yield and a potentially profitable season for producers.

“

I bought it for 6,000 TL per kilogram, but it doesn't matter. Let our farmers be happy. It's not easy to bring the cherries to market.

While the 6,000 Lira per kilogram price is symbolic, both traders and farmers acknowledge that market prices will soon stabilize. Mesut Altıok, the buyer, emphasized that the high price was secondary to supporting the farmers, especially after last year's difficulties. Yusuf Bakan anticipates that prices will drop to around 250 Lira per kilogram for wholesale trade by May, with retail prices likely reaching 500 Lira due to increased costs for traders. This ensures that the premium early-season fruit, while celebrated, does not set an unattainable price point for the broader market.

“

The 6,000 TL price made me happy, but it is a symbolic sale for now. When May comes, I think we will sell it around 250 TL. We will give it to the trader for 250 TL. Due to the increasing costs of our traders, it will probably reach 500 TL in the market.