İsmail Yılmaz

With Safranbolu's saffron, a spice known to have several health benefits and other uses, Türkiye has become the first country in Europe to have saffron registered by the EU and the second country in the world to have spices registered by the EU.

In the heart of Türkiye's cut flower production hub, the southwestern province of Antalya, preparations for Valentine's Day are in full swing, with a noteworthy demand from Europe worth a staggering $7 million in vibrant flower exports.

The ornamental plants and cut flower sector in the southern province of Antalya has started shipping a total of 75 million cut flowers, mainly carnations, and 4 million Christmas wreaths to nearly 30 European countries and Russia for Christmas and New Year celebrations this year.

The total number of registered employees has been increasing despite the end of a layoff ban, the head of Turkey's Social Security Institution (SGK) has said.

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Turkey exported $107 million worth of flowers to 83 countries in 2020 despite the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters Union, which embodies the export of cut flowers, indoor and outdoor plants, flower bulbs, and wreaths, the number of branches of flowers sold abroad reached 505 million in 2020, most of them carnations.

Turkey's flower growers are looking for new foreign markets as demand has dropped significantly because of the global pandemic.

The industry's exports stood at $107 million last year and growers had initially set a higher revenue target of $125 million for 2020, however the coronavirus outbreak shattered their hopes. 

Turkish flower producers have exported 60 million roses to 50 countries -- including the Netherlands, the U.K., Germany and Ukraine -- ahead of Feb. 14 Valentine's Day.

The shipping of roses began 20 days ago, İsmail Yılmaz, the head of the Central Anatolian Ornamental Plants Exporters' Association, told Anadolu Agency.

Turkish flower producers have exported 60 million roses to 50 countries -- including the Netherlands, the U.K., Germany and Ukraine -- ahead of Feb. 14 Valentine's Day.

The shipping of roses began 20 days ago, İsmail Yılmaz, the head of the Central Anatolian Ornamental Plants Exporters' Association, told Anadolu Agency.

Two lawyers for the opposition Turkish daily newspaper Sözcü on June 2 appealed to a higher court over the arrest of two journalists as part of the investigation into the July 2016 failed coup attempt, Doğan News Agency has reported.

Police detained the finance manager of critical daily Sözcü on May 23, days after detention warrants were issued for four of the newspaper's staff members as a part of an investigation into the Gülen movement, which is accused of being behind the July 2016 failed coup attempt, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.