Prickly Pears Fetch High Price as Harvest Requires Special Care

A unique prickly pear variety, known by locals as "Hint inciri," "dikenli incir," and "tahta inciri," is currently being harvested in the Çağbaşı neighborhood, fetching a price of 30 Turkish lira per kilogram. This fruit, which grows even in rocky terrains, requires meticulous harvesting methods.

Due to its sharp spines, the collection process demands significant attention. Workers don specialized thick gloves and cover their bodies with protective clothing. In some areas, iron tongs are used to carefully detach the prickly pears from the cactus before placing them into crates for sale. The harvest typically begins very early in the morning, concluding by 7:30 AM, as the spines become more volatile later in the day.

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Harvesting starts very early and finishes by 07:30 at the latest because the spines fly off later. The collection is generally done by women, who use special gloves that reach up to their elbows. We extract the fruit's essence from its seeds and ensure its use in ice cream, juice, marmalade, and other pastry products.

Producers like Mustafa Teke, head of the Tarsus Chamber of Commerce, cultivate the fruit on about 30 decares, yielding an average of one ton per decare. Teke highlighted the fruit's versatility, noting that its pulp can be extracted from the seeds for use in various products. These include sugar-free ice cream, juices, marmalades, and other confectionery items. He also expressed optimism about obtaining geographical indication status for the "Tarsus prickly pear," similar to "Sarıulak olive oil."

Local entrepreneur Ezgi Fındık, who produces ice cream from the "Frenk inciri" variety in the district, praised the fruit's quality. Her ice cream, made without refined sugar, additives, or preservatives, has seen high demand. The cultivation of this prickly pear is seen as a valuable contributor to the regional economy, particularly by providing income opportunities for women in rural areas.

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We have obtained a wonderful ice cream from the essence of this valuable fruit. Demand for our ice creams, produced without refined sugar, additives, and preservatives, is truly high.