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🇹🇷 Turkey /Economy & Trade

Traders flock to the fields as Niğde’s 300,000-ton ‘white gold’ cabbage harvest begins

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Farmers in Kaynarca village have begun harvesting white cabbage after months of work, with field prices ranging from 40 to 60 lira per head.
  • Niğde produces about 250,000 to 300,000 tons of white cabbage annually across roughly 25,000 decares.
  • Local producer Vedat Altınöz said the cabbage’s quality, durability and locally preserved seed attract traders and support shipments across Turkey.

After months of work, farmers in Kaynarca village, in Niğde’s Bor district, have begun harvesting white cabbage. Traders have arrived in the fields to buy the crop, which sells for between 40 and 60 lira per head depending on size and quality.

We have opened our 2026 cabbage season successfully. Harvesting starts around Aug. 20 and continues until the end of the year. Depending on the cabbage’s quality, prices in the field currently range from 40 to 60 lira.

· Vedat AltınözThe Kaynarca village headman and producer described the harvest schedule and field prices.

Harvesting began in the second half of August and is expected to continue until the end of the year. Niğde grows white cabbage across about 25,000 decares and produces between 250,000 and 300,000 tons annually. The crop from Kaynarca is shipped not only to nearby provinces but to many parts of Turkey.

Vedat Altınöz, the village headman and a cabbage producer, said warmer weather had affected prices slightly. “We have opened our 2026 cabbage season successfully. Harvesting starts around Aug. 20 and continues until the end of the year. Depending on the cabbage’s quality, prices in the field currently range from 40 to 60 lira,” he said.

In terms of taste, flavor and aroma, we are confident. Kaynarca cabbage is number one in Turkey for us.

· Vedat AltınözHe praised the local cabbage’s flavor and reputation.

Altınöz said Kaynarca cabbage stands out for its taste and aroma, as well as for its thin leaves, durability and long shelf life. “In terms of taste, flavor and aroma, we are confident. Kaynarca cabbage is number one in Turkey for us,” he said. He added that the village produces nearly 300,000 tons a year and markets its crop across the country.

Our cabbage has a shelf life of at least 20 days.

· Vedat AltınözHe explained why the produce can be shipped to distant parts of Turkey.

Local seed is another point of pride. Producers have preserved and used their own seed for about 100 years, Altınöz said, rather than relying on outside suppliers. He attributed the cabbage’s sturdy, thin-leaved structure partly to the area’s constant winds. The crop has a shelf life of at least 20 days under suitable conditions, making long-distance shipping easier. Trader Sinan Olgun, who travels from Adana to buy the cabbage, said producers maintain high quality and that he takes the loads back to Adana for sale.

The cabbage here is high quality. Because the producers achieve good quality, we come here to buy the crop.

· Sinan OlgunThe Adana-based trader explained why he purchases cabbage in Kaynarca.
About this summary

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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