The Turkish province of Bartın is set to play a significant role in the organic cultivation of aronia berries. This is according to Cengiz Bostanci, an agricultural engineer working in the province of Bartın: “At a time when interest in functional foods and organic agriculture and horticulture is growing worldwide, the province of Bartın in Turkey is strengthening its position in the global aronia berry market. Thanks to a combination of government support, investment from the private sector and cooperative initiatives, Bartın is not only building a cultivation centre, but one of the purest aronia ecosystems in the world. Aronia cultivation in Bartın began in 2018 as part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Plant Production Development Project, in collaboration with the Yalova Atatürk Horticultural Central Research Institute.”

Aronia melanocarpa, the chokeberry or black chokeberry, is a deciduous shrub belonging to the rose family and has been known for decades as a robust, ecologically valuable ornamental shrub. The glossy black berries are known as a superfood due to their exceptionally high concentration of antioxidants. It is a wind-resistant and salt-tolerant, versatile shrub that can be planted as a solitary specimen or in groups and is suitable for a wide range of soil types. The white-flowering shrub has a beautiful red autumn colour, and its edible black berries offer both decorative and ecological value. 

Thousands of young plants
In recent years, the area under cultivation in Bartın has expanded significantly. In 2024, thousands of young shrubs were planted, says Bostanci. "The project received a major boost in 2024, partly thanks to the joint efforts of the Bartın Special Provincial Administration and the Bartın Provincial Directorate of Agriculture. As part of the Aronia Cultivation Development Project, fallow land was restored to productive use. The Provincial Directorate provided technical guidance for the establishment of the first orchards. In 2024 alone, nearly 10,000 young trees were planted, spread across the spring and autumn. This created a cultivation area of approximately five hectares."

Bostanci is convinced that this sets Bartın province apart from other cultivation areas around the world: “What makes us unique globally is that we are the only centre in Turkey and indeed in the world that focuses exclusively on organic aronia cultivation. Under the strict supervision of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture, no chemical substances whatsoever are used in the cultivation process.
 
Source: information about Bartın: Biojournaal.nl