Newsletters
Foreign tourists visiting Cappadocia, the central Anatolian region in Türkiye known for its rock-cut landscapes and hot air balloon flights, took part in an aronia berry harvest at a farm in Avanos, a district of Nevsehir province roughly a three-hour drive southeast of Ankara.
Hasan Pinar, a local grower, organized the activity to give visitors touring the region's historic and natural sites an additional, agriculture-based experience.
Four years ago, Pinar planted 2,500 aronia saplings on five decares of land, roughly half a hectare, in the rural outskirts of Avanos. He has since opened the harvest to tourists as a way of introducing them to the area's agricultural products.
Tourists arrived by tour bus, learned about the aronia crop from Pinar, and picked berries alongside farm staff.
Avanos Mayor Mustafa Kenan Saritas told reporters the initiative was intended to strengthen the district's agricultural sector alongside its tourism industry.
"We will also offer a contribution to tourism through agriculture," Saritas said, adding that local officials expect the activity to support further growth in the sector.
Aronia, also known as chokeberry, is grown in the region as one of several alternative crops being promoted among local farmers.
Avanos is better known internationally for its pottery and ceramics workshops, a tradition dating back centuries and tied to the red clay along the nearby Kizilirmak River.
Organizers of the harvest activity said they hope to expand participation and use similar events to introduce visitors to agricultural products grown in the district that are not typically part of standard Cappadocia tour itineraries, which tend to focus on the region's cave dwellings, underground cities and hot air balloon rides.
The event forms part of a broader pattern in Cappadocia, where operators have increasingly paired the region's established tourism draws with smaller-scale, locally run activities such as farm visits, craft workshops and food-focused experiences, aimed at diversifying what the region offers beyond its natural rock formations.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
3 min read
