The Marketing and Consuming of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera) in Turkey

The palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is imported from the countries Saudi Arabia, Iran, Tunisia, Israel (Jerusalem) and South Africa. The date palm market is mainly composed of the products from Saudi Arabia. The date palm from Medina is the first in respect of the quality. The second and the third are the date palm from Jerusalem and Tunisia respectively. The date palm from Iran is low in quality and it is mainly consumed with low prices in Ramadan month. The date palm from Iran is first washed and then serviced in big shopping centers during the Ramadan. It is supposed that 300 tons are sold during the period. Since the date palm imported from Iran is washed and serviced in big shopping, it becomes mouldy in a short time. There is also another date palm market which is composed of shocked date palm packets. The date palm is composing of 40 types and dates are mainly consumed in big cities such as Istanbul, Ankara, Konya, Kayseri and Bursa. The high season of consuming the date palm in Turkey is the pilgrimage period. The date palm input from Saudi Arabia during the period is legally nearly 800 tons. Additionally, the pilgrims are also thought to bring 6000 tons palm from Saudi Arabia while coming back to Turkey.