Lavender Producers' Union to Be Established

In Turkey, lavender producers whose initial cultivation began in the Kuyucak village of Isparta and subsequently spread to many provinces, particularly Burdur, covering over 10,000 hectares, are establishing the Isparta-based Lavender Producers Union (Lavanta Birlik). Lavender gardens in Isparta and Burdur, opening in late June and enchanting with their purple visuals until mid-August for approximately two months, are visited by tens of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists. Lavender, which has become an important income source for ecotourism, perfumery-cosmetics, and food industries in the two provinces, is bringing producers together under the Lavender Producers Union umbrella across Turkey. The union headquarters for lavender producers, which will follow a structure similar to other Turkish producer unions such as Gülbirlik, Çaykur, Fiskobirlik, Marmara Birlik, and Tariş, will be located in Isparta, where Turkey's first lavender production also began. MTM Agricultural Development Cooperative in Isparta is leading the Lavender Producers Union's establishment efforts. On behalf of the Cooperative, Barış Gümüş, Deputy Chairman of MTM Agricultural Development Cooperative and Chairman of Isparta Young Businessmen's Association (IGİAD), who also serves in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's working groups on medicinal and aromatic plants, has undertaken the Lavender Producers Union's establishment work.

Lavender-scented villages

Barış Gümüş, noting that Isparta is Turkey's center for medicinal and aromatic plants, particularly rose and lavender production, stated that Kuyucak, recently known as the "Lavender-Scented Village," is on Turkey's agenda with its lavender gardens. Gümüş, noting that the lavender gardens in Kuyucak village received over 500,000 visitors last year, said, "In nearby Burdur, there is also a very large lavender garden in Akçaköy, which was developed through the private initiative of Öztürk Sarıca. Akçaköy also received at least as many visitors."

Exceeding 10,000 hectares in Turkey

Stating that lavender production in Isparta and Burdur is beginning to spread throughout the country, Barış Gümüş said, "Lavender cultivation is being done in many provinces and people have great expectations about lavender. We believe that lavender cultivation needs to be brought under one umbrella and conducted with proper operations. Because it is not receiving much attention, because the gardens are very new. It has exceeded 10,000 hectares and the gardens continue to grow each day. In a few years, when it reaches productivity, the discussion will shift from the planting and cultivation of this lavender to its trade."

Headquarters will be in Isparta

Explaining that they have begun working to establish a union that will bring lavender producers together under one umbrella, like Gülbirlik in Isparta or other producer unions in Turkey, Gümüş said, "We want to establish the Lavender Producers Union as well. In relation to this, in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's thematic working groups titled medicinal and aromatic plants, based on market requirements we have observed, we decided to establish the Lavender Producers Union with headquarters in Isparta." LAVENDER PRODUCTION SPREADS ACROSS TURKEY Gümüş, saying that while the rose is specific to Isparta, lavender has begun to be produced in many provinces of Turkey, stated, "Therefore, the Lavender Producers Union's work area should cover all of Turkey. That is why we are calling from here: everyone involved with lavender in every corner of the country, everyone engaged in lavender farming, please reach out to us and be part of the founding board of the Lavender Producers Union. By June, we will form the founding board with at least 20 members. Today, lavender cultivation is being done in dozens of provinces outside Isparta-Burdur, such as Konya, Denizli, Antalya, Uşak, Muğla, Kayseri, Gaziantep, Afyonkarahisar, and Manisa."   Source