A severe frost in Turkey has led to a significant reduction in the hazelnut harvest, causing prices to surge by 34% since the start of the year. This situation highlights the vulnerability of agriculture to climate change-induced extreme weather.
Hazelnut Prices Soar Due to Frost in Turkey
Hazelnut Prices Soar Due to Frost in Turkey
Cold temperatures in Turkey have resulted in a reduced hazelnut harvest, causing prices to skyrocket.
An unusually cold period in Turkey, including frost-damaged plants, has led to hazelnut prices starting to rise even before the harvest season, reports news agency NTB.
According to the commodity platform Vesper BV, a ton of hazelnuts now costs 9,400 euros, marking a 34 percent increase since the beginning of the year.
Approximately 60 percent of the world's hazelnuts are grown in the lush mountainous region along Turkey's Black Sea coast, where the crops are referred to as the green gold due to their economic significance.
The fact that this year's harvest is largely ruined has prompted Turkey's agriculture minister to call the event "one of the worst frost periods for agriculture in the country's history."
Researchers point out that extreme weather caused by climate change is behind the agricultural vulnerability.
Losses have been partially offset by surpluses from previous harvests and production in other countries.