“Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” olive of Balıkesir wins EU recognition
The recognition by the EU will help to protect the name of “Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” and to promote the product and its unique characteristics linked to geographical area of production as well as traditional know-how.
“Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” is a table olive obtained from the Edremit variety, one of Türkiye’s most popular varieties, by scratching and brining Edremit olives. The main distinguishing feature of the production of this olive is the natural fermentation. There is no human intervention or chemical treatment during the fermentation of the olives. Therefore, the production process lasts at least six months after the harvest, as the bitter substances are gradually removed. However, a certain degree of bitterness remains in the final product, showing the olives’ freshness and authenticity.
A medium-sized olive, the Edremit variety differs from other olives grown in Türkiye with its softy flesh, a sour taste like lemon rind and thyme, bitter almond, artichoke and Aegean herbs aroma. The other significant distinguishing feature of this olive is that the flesh and the core are easily separated from each other. The olive pit is rough but does not cause discomfort on the tongue.
“Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” olive is obtained from the Edremit variety, one of Türkiye’s most popular varieties
The Head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, says, “I welcome the sixteenth Turkish food to win recognition by the EU. The logo helps the producers to protect their products and give confidence to the consumers with the logo. The consumers know that they are getting a genuine product when they see the logo. The EU registration will ensure the protection and recognition of ‘Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini” in Türkiye and beyond, as is the case with fifteen other Turkish foods with geographical indication.”
Olive cultivation has thousands of years of tradition in the Edremit Gulf region. The North Aegean and South Marmara regions provide favourable conditions for developing olive fruit. The area is essential for olive cultivation in Türkiye, an important economic sector.
Selman Hasan Arslan, the Mayor of Edremit Municipality, reflects: “After ‘Edremit Zeytinyağı’ olive oil, we are proud that the EU also registered ‘Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini’ olive. These achievements are due to our cooperation and solidarity, and they will make sure that Edremit's olive heritage stands out in Europe. As Edremit Municipality, we will continue our efforts to strengthen our local economy and represent Edremit even more strongly on international platforms.”
Selman Hasan Arslan, the Mayor of Edremit Municipality
The application for registration of a name as PDO process was conducted by the Edremit Chamber of Commerce. Ahmet Çetin, the Edremit Chamber of Commerce President, says, “We are very happy that the application we made in 2018 was concluded positively, and Edremit received the EU’s geographical indication for the second time. Both Edremit olive oil and Edremit olive have the best quality in the world. I believe the recognition of our olives in Europe will increase. We wish our producers, industrialists and consumers in Türkiye all the best.”
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), states: “I congratulate Ahmet Çetin and all his colleagues for protecting our local values.”
According to Murat Küçükçakır, the olive consultant and agricultural engineer, “the green scratched olive is naturally brined. I find this development very positive in terms of the promotion of the region and the product. For geographical indication, the value added by the region to the product is significant, and the ecosystem and soil structure formed by the Ida Mountains give the variety in the region superior properties, both as olive oil and table olives. The simple natural process learnt from the ancestors of the region's people used to obtain green scratched olives is also important. Registered by the EU logo is a source of pride for us.”
The producers in Edremit are also happy with the development. One of them is Nermin Gökduman. She states: “EU registration is a proud development. It is precious that the values of our country are registered with geographical indication and introduced to the world. Some market chains support the sale of registered products. I believe that both the recognition and sales of our green scratch olive will increase, just like our Edremit olive oil.”
Hasan Pekin, the producer, says, “I would like to thank everyone who contributed. I think the marketing opportunities of the product will increase.”
The EU has previously awarded PDO and PGI (protected geographical indication) status to other product names from Türkiye: “Antep Baklavası / Gaziantep Baklavası”, “Aydın Kestanesi”, "Aydın İnciri", “Bayramiç Beyazı”, “Malatya Kayısısı”, “Milas Zeytinyağı”, “Taşköprü Sarımsağı”, “Giresun Tombul Fındığı”, “Antakya Künefesi”, “Suruç Narı”, “Çağlayancerit Cevizi”, “Gemlik Zeytini”, “Edremit Zeytinyağı”, “Milas Yağlı Zeytini”, and “Ayaş Domatesi”.
