Alanya Avocado


Description and Distinctive Features of the Alanya Avocado:

The avocado, native to Mexico, stands out with its high fat content and significant vitamins and minerals, while having lower sugar content compared to other fruits. It is rich in fats and proteins.

Alanya Avocado

In the 1970s, various avocado varieties (fuerte, hass, bacon, and zutano) were brought to Turkey through the efforts of Turkey's embassies in the Americas, and their cultivation began along the Antalya-Mersin coastal strip through FAO assistance. It was determined that this region was suitable for avocado cultivation. Since the 1970s, avocado production has gained importance in Turkey, and 80% of the country's avocado production takes place in Antalya, with more than 80% of this production occurring in the Alanya and Gazipaşa districts, covering a total of 4 thousand hectares with 60 thousand trees.

The geographical area of Alanya Avocado is characterized by the Toros Mountains rising parallel to the sea after a narrow coastal plain. The eastern, western, and northern Toros Mountains prevent cold air and winds from the inland during winter, creating a natural cold-barrier effect. As a result, the region is protected from severe cold in winter, with the lowest observed temperature not dropping below 12°C in January. Additionally, the sea has a moderating effect on the climate. Therefore, Alanya and Gazipaşa districts have a microclimate.

The variety of Alanya Avocado is Fuerte. It has a dark green, slightly rough skin, and the fruit resembles a pear in shape. Small greenish-yellow flowers bloom in clusters from late autumn to early summer, depending on the tree variety. The flesh of Alanya Avocado is light yellowish-green. Each fruit has a large single seed. Studies have shown that avocados grown in the region differ morphologically and nutritionally from imported products. The fat content of avocados grown in Alanya and Gazipaşa ranges from 12.22% to 17.28%, while avocados grown in other countries show variations between 6.3% to 26.6% and 3.05% to 6.70%.

Production Method:

While general avocado production techniques are applied in Alanya Avocado cultivation, attention should be paid to the following points. Avocado can be grown in open fields in Alanya.

Climate Requirements: Alanya Avocado is highly sensitive to late frosts in winter and spring, low temperatures during flowering and fruit setting, sudden temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and high temperatures during the seedling period. Looking at the long-term climate data for Alanya, the average annual temperature is 19°C, with the hottest month being August at 27°C and the coldest month being January at 12°C. Alanya experiences a rainy and humid winter and a dry and hot typical Mediterranean climate in summer. The land chosen for the Alanya Avocado orchard should be relatively sheltered from strong winds and not too cold. Temperatures below -2.8°C can be harmful.

Soil Requirements: Alanya Avocado cultivation requires well-drained, deep, organically rich, loamy-sandy, loose, and neutral-reacting soil. The soil characteristics specific to the Alanya district are provided in Table-4, indicating that the soil in this region is deep, rich in organic matter, loamy-sandy, loose, neutral in reaction, and well-drained.