Cherry production and marketing in Turkey: Example of Bursa provi̇nce

Turkey is one of the important centers where many fruit species are grown due to its geographical location. Cherry, which is among these fruit types, has an important place in the country's economy with its production and export. Cherry production is carried out in many provinces and districts of Turkey, and modern agricultural methods are applied. Bursa, which is among the regions producing cherries, ranks 3rd among the provinces with the highest production according to 2020 data. In this study, data were collected from 52 cherry producers in the Keles District of Bursa, and the cherry production potential and marketing conditions of the region were analyzed. The survey data were analyzed with the SPSS 25.0 package program. The cherry production area of the examined enterprises was found to be 25 decares on average. 50% of business owners are between the ages of 46 and 60. It has been determined that there are more enterprises with agricultural experience between 26 and 35 years. Apart from cherry production in the region, products such as walnuts and almonds are produced. Ziraat 0900 variety, known as "Türk Kirazı", is produced in 98.1% of the enterprises examined. The sales of the produced cherries are realized in the wholesale markets established during the harvest period. Since the region has its own market, producers do not have any problems in accessing the market. According to the results of the research, it shows that cherry cultivation in the region can be done economically. Therefore, it is possible to say that it is an important alternative for enterprises that will invest in cherry production.