Residents of the Hüyük district in Konya contribute to the economy through strawberry production.
About 15 years ago, strawberries with geographical indication certification were cultivated in a small area. Over time, as the cultivation areas expanded, they also created a significant source of employment.
According to data from the District Agriculture Directorate, of the 40,000 tons of strawberries produced last year, some were consumed domestically while others were exported.
Mehmet Bilgi, the President of the Hüyük Organic Strawberry Producers Association, stated that strawberries are cultivated on 10,000 hectares of land in the district.
Sıraç Orhan, the Konya Coordinator of the company that exports strawberries purchased from local producers through the cold storage facility he established in the district, stated that strawberries from the region are exported to 17 countries by various companies.
Orhan stated, "We purchase 5,000 tons of produce annually. Of this, we export 500 tons. We send it by road to Romania, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, and by air to Dubai and the Maldives. Our Georgian customers also send the strawberries they buy from us to Russia through Armenia. The strawberries that go to Romania are then distributed to European Union countries, primarily Germany."
