Bitter Frosts Threaten Turkish Fruit, But Cherries Hold Hope | Image Source: www.dailysabah.com
ISTANBUL (Turkey), 6 April 2025 – Turkey, a world exporter of stone grapefruit, is agitated by the consequences of a severe and unexpected spring frost that has put in danger large extensions of its agricultural production. With temperatures well below -15 degrees Celsius in some areas, the April cold is the worst in more than a decade, treating a hard blow to apricot gardens and raising widespread concern among farmers, exporters and decision makers. However, in the midst of the challenges, cherries producers remain cautious about the upcoming season, thanks to the regional diversity of the Turkish agricultural landscape and resistant areas such as Afyon and Isparte.
According to Turkish Agriculture Minister Ibrahim Yumakli, the country has not experienced such an extreme spring freeze since 2014. “We’ve had one of the toughest frosts since 2014,” he said in a shared statement on X, previously known as Twitter. The sudden fall in temperatures left a visible scar on grapefruit farms, especially in areas such as Malatya, a region known for its sugar ridges. At the same time, Istanbul and the surrounding area were also placed on high alert as meteorologists warning new cold fronts and mixed precipitation entering the Thrace region, with snow even expected in some places.
How was the cold adjustment in Turkey?
The timeless April freeze is still a risk to countries heavily dependent on fruit exports, but this year’s temperature collapse has been accompanied by unusual intensity and range. The Turkish State Meteorological Service has warned that temperatures in the northwest such as Edirne, Kırklareli and Tekirdağ should fall from 5 to 7 degrees Celsius below seasonal standards. In high and inland areas, this deficit could be increased to 7 to 9 degrees. Precipitation is expected to be strong, with snow potential in metropolitan areas such as Istanbul and neighbouring provinces such as Kocaeli and Sakarya.
The authorities urged citizens to rely on the risk of snow accumulation, cold road conditions and, above all, agricultural frost, a danger that lasts when fruit trees grow or thrive. “The moment of this ice cream is what makes it so harmful,” explains Turkish exporter Yigit Gökyigit. “The apricots bloom early, and a cold event at this point can end the harvest before it begins.”
Are these the cultures that hit the strongest?
The apricots took the worst part of the anger of time. The Malatya region, which is responsible for a large part of Turkish apricots exports, suffered considerable damage. Gökyigit, representing the fruit exporting company Alanar, noted that previous events of the season had already weakened production, and the latter cold pushed expectations even below. “Malatya is well known for the Turkish specialty Sugar Aricos, but ice cream has affected this entire region”
he said. Given the reduced yield, he predicts that prices will likely climb, creating a ripple effect through both domestic and international markets.
On the contrary, cherries have shown greater resilience. Although areas such as Çanakkale, Manisa and Izmir suffered partial frost damage, with losses estimated at 15%, other key production centres such as Afyon, Konya and Isparta were saved, which stimulated optimism for a strong export season.
Why do cherries work well?
One reason why cherries can still thrive is the geographical extent of Turkey. With cherry trees spread over different heights and climates, damage in a region does not necessarily condemn all national performance. “We expect a good season this year in general for cherries,” Gökyigit said. The first varieties of cherries will start to hit the domestic market by the end of April, while export producers, such as Z-900, will be ready by the end of May, just in time for maximum demand in Europe.
The main international buyers of Turkish cherries are Germany, Russia, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, but there is emerging potential in new markets such as Canada. Gökyigit considers this to be an opportunity stemming from current trade tensions: “The United States is Canada’s leading cherries supplier, so I think Turkey can seize a portion of the Canadian market emptied by U.S. cherries
What is the general climate trend?
Although most media reports on climate change focus on burning heat waves, fires or droughts, events such as the fate of Turkish ice cream highlight a more subtle but equally harmful manifestation: erratic cold outbreaks. According to multiple weather assessments, climate change not only makes the planet warmer, but also makes weather models more unpredictable. The sudden freezing of spring like this can decimate crops that would otherwise have significant beneficial effects, aggravating the economic stress of rural communities and agricultural exporters.
In fact, what happened in Turkey last April is part of a growing global trend towards climate volatility that affects food security. According to international climate studies, the increase in artic temperature anomalies is likely to stop the jet current, making extreme heat and cold intact at average latitudes more often. These gel episodes are not just bad luck – they can be a sign of what comes.
Are there economic consequences beyond agriculture?
Yeah, and they’re already visible. In addition to reducing harvest volumes, Turkish producers face wider macroeconomic challenges. Inflation and boom rates feed on profit margins, making every ton of exported fruit more expensive to grow, harvest and board. Gökyigit stresses the pressure this puts on exporters: “According to the high rates of inflation and interest, our costs increase considerably every year. Therefore, our profit margins are narrower than in previous years.”
Labour shortages further exacerbate these challenges. Seasonal workers, essential to fruit collection and processing, are becoming more difficult to find, as economic uncertainty is at the root of internal migration and wage inflation. Exporters are now facing double pressure: climate supply shortages and cost inflation.
What precautions do the authorities advise?
With a colder climate, the Turkish authorities are stepping up their advice. The Governor of Istanbul, based on forecasts from the Turkish State Meteorological Service, issued warnings for 7 and 8 April, warning snow, rain and frost. Residents are advised to follow the updates of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change. These warnings are intended not only to protect the public, but also to give farmers time to protect crops that they can use with freezing protection techniques such as irrigation, land cover and wind machinery.
But these tactics offer only partial relief. When temperatures decrease rapidly and remain low for hours or days, protective measures become less effective. In such cases, the best defence is long-term planning: crop diversification, intelligent irrigation, frost resistant varieties and even geogolps of vulnerable areas.
What’s next for Turkish fruit exports?
Despite the setbacks, Turkish exporters resist. The cherries season, which remains largely on the right track, can provide a lifeline. European retailers still see Turkish cherries as premium cherries – sweet, firm and ideal for long-distance transport. If the crops of Afyon and Isparta are delivered as planned, Turkey could maintain its position as a cherries supplier to the EU and increase its footprint in the Canadian market.
Meanwhile, for apricots and other grapefruit, the image is darker. The decline in supply generally leads to higher prices, which could help offset producer losses, but reduce demand among price sensitive buyers. Exporters will have to be creative: find new markets, optimize logistics, and even invest in cold storage and processing to reduce waste and extend the platform’s useful life.
The April freeze reminds us that climate change is not a future scenario but a current disruption. Turkish agriculture is at a crossroads, between opportunity and adversity, between tradition and adaptation. The resilience of its cherry sector can serve as a model for a diversified and strategically located agriculture to withstand even the bitter cold.
Sources: As reported by Daily Sabah, Yahoo News and Fruitnet’s Eurofruit, this information reflects the latest developments of 6 April 2025 in relation to Turkey’s weather models and agricultural export forecasts.
