Turkish Dried Dates Suppliers 2026 | Mersin Antalya Medjool Deglet Noor Mazafati Ajwa Repack Organic FOB Izmir Mersin

Quick answer

Turkish dried date supply chain operates a dual-model structure combining limited native Phoenix dactylifera production from the Gazipasa-Anamur microclimate belt yielding 1,200 metric tons annually with large-scale value-add repack processing across Mersin and Izmir hubs handling 85,000 metric tons of imported Tunisian Deglet Noor, Saudi Medjool, Iranian Mazafati, Ajwa, Piarom, Algerian Aghlani, UAE Khalas, Egyptian Siwa, Iraqi Zahidi, and Omani Khunaizi origins for 2026 repack, sorting, grading, pitting, diced-cut, paste-syrup processing, Ramadan retail packaging, and HORECA iftar service channel distribution with BRCGS AA+, IFS Food v8 Higher, FSSC 22000 v6 triple GFSI accreditation plus USDA NOP, EU 2018/848, Halal GIMDES IFANCA, Kosher OU OK Star-K coverage for EU, UK, Balkans, CIS, Central Asia, North Africa, Middle East resident-distribution and Muslim diaspora markets through FOB Mersin and FOB Izmir Alsancak reefer container dispatches.

85,000 t

Turkish Date Repack Volume

8 origins

Origin Countries Processed

1,200 t

Native Gazipasa Anamur Output

32,000 t

Ramadan 2026 Peak Volume

62 countries

Export Destinations Served

Turkish Dried Date Repack & Value-Add Landscape 2026

Turkey's role in the global dried date supply chain is positioned primarily as a strategic Mediterranean value-add repack and redistribution hub rather than a volume origin producer. Mersin and Izmir processing facilities receive Phoenix dactylifera fruit from Tunisia (Deglet Noor translucent-amber dry dates representing 45 percent of incoming volume), Saudi Arabia (Medjool, Ajwa, Sukkari, Khalas premium semi-dry and soft date varieties 22 percent), Iran (Mazafati Bam, Piarom chocolate date, Zahidi semi-dry 18 percent), plus Algeria, UAE, Egypt, Iraq, and Oman origin lots, then perform sorting, X-ray pit detection, grading, pitting, diced-cut processing, paste-syrup production, Ramadan retail packaging, and HORECA iftar service channel distribution across EU, UK, Balkans, CIS, Central Asia, North Africa, and Muslim diaspora markets.

Supplementing repack operations, Turkey's limited native Phoenix dactylifera production concentrated in the Gazipasa-Anamur Mediterranean coastal microclimate plus Sanliurfa-Mardin Southeastern Anatolia warm-zone trial orchards yields 1,200 metric tons annually of primarily Halawi and local heirloom varieties. While small in absolute volume, native Turkish date production serves niche specialty and local ethnic heritage markets, with ongoing R&D at Cukurova and Ege Universities testing climate-adapted Medjool and Barhi clonal propagation for potential future cultivation expansion under Mediterranean climate-change scenarios and Gaziantep-Diyarbakir-Siirt Southeast Anatolia GAP irrigation project rollout.

Mersin value-add repack hub 60,000 t/year throughput infrastructure

Key operational pillar: Mersin value-add repack hub 60,000 t/year throughput infrastructure. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

Izmir Alsancak supplementary repack 25,000 t/year infrastructure

Key operational pillar: Izmir Alsancak supplementary repack 25,000 t/year infrastructure. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

Gazipasa Anamur native Turkish production 1,200 t/year microclimate belt

Key operational pillar: Gazipasa Anamur native Turkish production 1,200 t/year microclimate belt. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

Sanliurfa Mardin R&D trial orchards GAP irrigation expansion

Key operational pillar: Sanliurfa Mardin R&D trial orchards GAP irrigation expansion. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

BRCGS AA+ IFS Food v8 Higher FSSC 22000 v6 triple GFSI coverage

Key operational pillar: BRCGS AA+ IFS Food v8 Higher FSSC 22000 v6 triple GFSI coverage. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

USDA NOP EU 2018/848 JAS organic chain-of-custody traceability

Key operational pillar: USDA NOP EU 2018/848 JAS organic chain-of-custody traceability. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

Halal GIMDES IFANCA Ramadan-compliance and Kosher OU Star-K

Key operational pillar: Halal GIMDES IFANCA Ramadan-compliance and Kosher OU Star-K. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

X-ray pit-detection plus metal-detection QC 100 percent verification

Key operational pillar: X-ray pit-detection plus metal-detection QC 100 percent verification. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

FOB Mersin and Izmir Alsancak weekly reefer 62 destinations

Key operational pillar: FOB Mersin and Izmir Alsancak weekly reefer 62 destinations. This area represents documented strength backed by verifiable buyer-grade evidence and direct exporter accountability.

Turkish Dried Date Varieties & Origin Portfolio

Explore eight distinct Turkish-processed dried date grades spanning Tunisian Deglet Noor premium, Saudi Medjool luxury, Iranian Mazafati soft-juicy, Organic USDA NOP EU certified, Saudi Ajwa Madinah religious-premium, Pitted Diced Bakery Industrial, Date Paste Debs Pekmez Syrup, and Ramadan Iftar HORECA Food-Service formats from Mersin-Izmir value-add repack hubs.

Tunisian Deglet Noor Branch-On Stemmed Premium

Translucent amber-golden semi-dry Deglet Noor (Phoenix dactylifera 'Finger of Light') sourced from Kebili-Tozeur Tunisia oases, imported via Mersin then sorted, graded, branched-stemmed premium retail repack with 22-26 percent moisture, honey-caramel flavor profile, crystalline sugar bloom indicator of quality, 250-gram 500-gram 1-kilogram clear PET clamshell retail formats serving EU (France Germany UK BeNeLux) Christmas holiday and Ramadan iftar channels, Codex Stan 143-1985 compliance, Aflatoxin-OTA-pesticide COA coverage, halal GIMDES IFANCA documentation, and FCL reefer 18-22C transit to European port destinations within 10-14 days from FOB Mersin dispatch.

Saudi Medjool Jumbo Super-Size Premium Luxury

Large-fruit Medjool ('King of Dates') sourced from Saudi Arabia Al Qassim Al Hasa plus Jordan Valley origin cooperatives, imported via Izmir Alsancak and Mersin, X-ray pit-detected sorted into Jumbo 8-11g, Super-Jumbo 11-14g, Jumbo Plus 14+ g category weights with 20-24 percent moisture caramel-soft texture flavor, 100g 200g 250g 500g wooden-tray gift-box and transparent PET tub luxury retail formats serving Whole Foods, Ocado, Harrods, Selfridges, Sukar premium grocery channels, plus Ramadan iftar royal-gift segment at 50-100 percent premium pricing over Deglet Noor benchmark.

Iranian Mazafati Bam Soft Juicy Fresh-Style Dates

Semi-soft Mazafati Bam-origin Phoenix dactylifera dates from Kerman Province Iran, imported into Mersin via land border (Bazargan-Gurbulak) or sea via Bandar Abbas-Iskenderun routes, featuring 28-32 percent moisture dark-brown caramel-molasses flavor profile requiring cold-chain 2-8C storage, 200g 500g 1kg vacuum-pack or modified-atmosphere clamshell retail formats targeting Central Asian republics (Uzbekistan Kazakhstan Tajikistan Azerbaijan), CIS diaspora markets (Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia) and Muslim-heritage neighborhoods in EU (Germany-Turkish, France-Maghreb) seeking authentic fresh-style soft date experience.

Organic USDA NOP EU 2018/848 Certified Repack

Certified organic Phoenix dactylifera sourced from Tunisia Kebili Deglet Noor organic cooperatives, Israel-Jordan Valley Medjool organic orchards, plus Iran Bam Mazafati organic-transition suppliers, processed in USDA NOP EU 2018/848 JAS audited Mersin-Izmir clean-chain facilities with dedicated organic production runs, allergen-segregation protocols, sulfur-free specification, full Ecocert IMO Kiwa certifier chain-of-custody documentation, organic transaction certificate per container, serving Whole Foods 365 organic, Sprouts, Ocado organic, Erewhon, Thrive Market premium natural retail programs.

Saudi Ajwa Madinah Holy Pilgrimage Religious Premium

Dark almost-black Ajwa ('Prophet's Date') sourced from Madinah Al Munawwarah Saudi Arabia region where Prophet Muhammad cultivated this cultivar according to Islamic tradition, imported under full halal chain-of-custody documentation, featuring soft-dry 20-22 percent moisture mildly sweet distinctive flavor, 250g 500g 1kg premium gift-box and paper-wrap religious-retail formats targeting Muslim pilgrimage Hajj-Umrah returnee gifting segment plus global Muslim consumer base at 3-5x premium pricing over standard dates reflecting religious significance, specialty channel MOQ 1,000 units retail packaged, direct factory representation to mosque-adjacent halal stores across EU UK Balkans CIS Muslim-heritage retail distribution networks.

Pitted Diced Bakery Industrial 6-10mm Cube-Cut

Mixed-origin date dice cube-cut from Deglet Noor, Zahidi, semi-dry working varieties with rice flour anti-caking 2 percent coating to prevent bakery dough sticking, uniform 6-10mm cube size, 25kg kraft poly-lined carton bulk format, bacterial load below 10,000 CFU/g, yeast below 100 CFU/g, mold below 50 CFU/g microbiological specification, FDA FSMA PCQI compliant documentation, serving bakery muffin scone energy-bar granola protein-ball date-cookie industrial ingredient integration for Clif Bar, Larabar, RxBar, KIND, Bob's Red Mill accounts, plus natural-sweetener functional food reformulation programs seeking refined-sugar alternatives.

Date Paste Debs Pekmez Syrup 70-75 Brix Industrial

Smooth homogenized date paste concentrated to 70-75 degrees Brix through partial vacuum dehydration plus date syrup (Arabic 'debs', Turkish 'hurma pekmezi') natural liquid-sweetener alternative featuring 68-72 Brix syrup consistency, aseptically packaged in 20-25kg bag-in-box format for bakery natural-sweetener refined-sugar-replacement applications, 2-year ambient shelf stability, preservative-free natural pH 4.8-5.4, functional 2-3 percent addition rate in muffin cake brownie reformulation, also retail 250g-500g glass jar premium positioning for Middle East Levantine cuisine home-cook channel across Germany-Turkish, UK-South-Asian heritage grocery programs.

Ramadan Iftar HORECA Food-Service 10kg Bulk Carton

Bulk 10kg carton Deglet Noor Zahidi mixed-origin pitted and unpitted dates for Ramadan iftar HORECA food-service cafeteria buffet mosque community-dinner and hotel iftar program supply, Muslim school canteen institutional catering plus corporate iftar event packages, competitive bulk pricing reflecting cooperative origin procurement and economy-grade sizing, halal GIMDES IFANCA Ramadan-compliance documentation, delivery guarantee 60 days before Ramadan start date through Izmir Mersin Iskenderun reefer dispatch to EU Muslim-heritage community cities (Berlin, Paris, London, Rotterdam, Vienna) plus Balkans Albania Bosnia Kosovo Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Central Asian republics.

Certifications & Regulatory Compliance

Turkish date repack processing facilities in Mersin and Izmir hold comprehensive international certifications spanning GFSI-recognized BRCGS AA+, IFS Food v8 Higher, FSSC 22000 v6 food-safety schemes plus Codex Stan 143-1985 dried date compliance, USDA NOP, EU 2018/848 organic, Halal GIMDES IFANCA MUI JAKIM multi-jurisdiction, Kosher OU OK Star-K CRC, and Non-GMO Project Verified certifications covering EU, US, Middle East, and global Muslim-Jewish consumer market requirements.

BFSI

BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 AA+

Highest audit grade for Mersin-Izmir date repack facilities, unannounced audits plus pest-control environmental monitoring microbiological verification

IFV8

IFS Food Version 8 Higher Level

International Featured Standard Higher certification covering HACCP-based food safety quality systems with EU retailer-required documentation

F2V6

FSSC 22000 Version 6

ISO 22000 plus ISO TS 22002-1 prerequisite programs covering processing contamination foreign-material X-ray metal-detection pit-detection verification

CS11

Codex Stan 143-1985 Dried Dates

International codex standard for dried dates defining moisture maximum limits, Aflatoxin-OTA-pesticide mycotoxin limits, grading category specifications

UNOC

USDA NOP Organic Certified

National Organic Program coverage for organic origin dates repacked under dedicated clean-chain production runs with Ecocert IMO Kiwa certifier audit

E28O

EU 2018/848 Organic

European Union organic regulation 2018/848 chain-of-custody including origin cooperative audit and annual unannounced inspection

HGIM

Halal GIMDES IFANCA MUI Turkey

Halal certification from Turkey GIMDES, USA IFANCA, Indonesia MUI for Ramadan compliance plus global Muslim markets Indonesia Malaysia Pakistan GCC distribution

KOOS

Kosher OU OK Star-K CRC

Kosher Pareve certification for US Canada Israel Jewish consumer markets, Passover-suitable specifications upon request with kitniyot-free verification

NGPV

Non-GMO Project Verified

Third-party Non-GMO Project verification seal recognizing Phoenix dactylifera inherent non-GMO status for North American natural retail shelf-requirement

Turkish Dried Date Pricing Guide FOB Mersin-Izmir 2026

Pricing reflects 2026 origin country harvest cycles, variety premium tiers, organic certification surcharges, Ramadan seasonal demand peaks, and reefer container freight costs from Mersin and Izmir Alsancak to global destinations.

Ramadan Iftar HORECA 10kg Bulk Carton

$2.40-3.60/kg

Mixed-origin Deglet Noor Zahidi economy grade

Pitted Diced Bakery Industrial 6-10mm

$2.80-4.20/kg

Rice flour anti-caking 25kg carton

Date Paste Debs Pekmez Syrup 70-75 Brix

$3.40-4.80/kg

Aseptic 20-25kg bag-in-box ambient

Tunisian Deglet Noor Branch-On Premium

$3.80-5.20/kg

250g-1kg PET clamshell Christmas-Ramadan

Iranian Mazafati Bam Soft Fresh-Style

$5.50-7.50/kg

Cold-chain 2-8C retail vacuum-pack

Organic USDA NOP EU 2018/848 Repack

$7.20-11.50/kg

Ecocert IMO Kiwa chain-of-custody

Saudi Medjool Jumbo Super-Size Luxury

$9.50-14.50/kg

Wooden-tray gift-box premium grocery

Saudi Ajwa Madinah Religious Premium

$18.00-35.00/kg

Hajj-Umrah gift specialty MOQ 1,000 units

Payment Terms

30 percent TT advance plus 70 percent against bill of lading standard; Letter of Credit at sight or CAD for established buyers; Open Account 30-60 days with Coface Atradius Euler Hermes Turk Eximbank trade credit insurance for Muslim-heritage distributor partners.

Incoterms 2020

FOB Mersin default for Medjool Deglet Noor; FOB Izmir Alsancak secondary; CFR CIF to destination quotable; DAP DDP available to key EU UK North African customers via integrated 3PL forwarder network.

Ramadan Seasonal Premium & Price Validity

Quotes valid 14-21 days subject to origin country harvest cycles, EUR-USD-TRY currency movement, Ramadan seasonal premium (October-January +15-25 percent peak demand), and Mersin-Izmir weekly reefer freight index fluctuations.

Packaging Formats & Specifications

Turkish dried date packaging spans premium luxury wooden-tray gift-box Medjool formats, religious paper-wrap Ajwa presentations, Ramadan retail PET clamshell standards, cold-chain vacuum-pack Mazafati, bulk food-service cartons, and industrial aseptic bag-in-box for bakery manufacturer integration.

Retail Packaging

100g 200g 250g premium wooden-tray gift-box Medjool
250g 500g 1kg Ajwa paper-wrap religious-retail
200g 500g 1kg clear PET clamshell Deglet Noor Christmas-Ramadan
200g 500g vacuum-pack cold-chain Mazafati fresh-style
250g-500g glass jar date syrup debs Levantine premium
6-pack 12-pack master carton shelf-ready display MOQ 3,000 units

Bulk / Industrial Packaging

10kg 12.5kg food-service kraft poly-lined Ramadan HORECA
25kg industrial diced bakery anti-caking carton
20kg 25kg aseptic bag-in-box date paste syrup
2 pallet LCL entry (approximately 2 metric ton)
18-20 MT 40-foot HC FCL retail-packaged reefer
22-24 MT 40-foot HC FCL bulk carton cost-optimized

Regional Date Repack Hubs & Production Zones

Turkey's dried date value chain concentrates value-add repack across Mersin and Izmir FTZ hubs plus limited native production on Mediterranean coastal microclimate belt with Mersin FOB serving as primary export gateway to EU Balkans CIS Central Asia Muslim-heritage markets.

Mersin Primary Date Repack Hub

Turkey's largest date value-add repack hub with 60,000 metric ton annual throughput concentrated across Mersin International Port adjacent FTZ industrial facilities receiving Tunisian Deglet Noor, Saudi Medjool, Iranian Mazafati, Algerian Aghlani imports via container vessel arrivals then performing sorting, X-ray pit-detection, grading, pitting, diced-cut, paste-syrup processing

Izmir Alsancak Supplementary Repack

Secondary 25,000 ton/year date repack infrastructure at Izmir Alsancak FOB gateway clustering around Aegean Free Zone facilities handling premium Saudi Medjool, Jordan Valley organic, Ajwa religious-premium segments with specialty gift-box retail packaging capability

Gazipasa Anamur Native Turkish Production

Mediterranean coastal microclimate belt centered on Antalya Gazipasa Alanya and Mersin Anamur districts maintaining approximately 800 hectares of Phoenix dactylifera primarily Halawi and local heirloom varieties producing 1,200 tons annually of native Turkish dates

Sanliurfa Mardin Southeastern Anatolia R&D

Southeastern Anatolia GAP (Southeastern Anatolia Project) irrigation project zone with experimental Medjool Barhi clonal propagation trials at Cukurova Ege Harran University agricultural research stations for potential future climate-adapted cultivation expansion

Iskenderun Border Land-Crossing Import Gateway

Secondary land-crossing import gateway for Iranian Mazafati Piarom arriving via Bazargan-Gurbulak Turkey-Iran border plus Iraqi Zahidi Khestawi arriving via Habur-Ibrahim Khalil Turkey-Iraq crossing with Iskenderun Port sea-side repack and onward redistribution

Mersin FOB Primary Export Gateway

Primary FOB export gateway at Mersin International Port container terminal servicing weekly reefer sailings via MSC CMA CGM Hapag-Lloyd Evergreen Maersk lines reaching EU UK Balkans CIS Central Asia North Africa destinations within 7-21 day transit windows

Buyers Guide: Six-Step Turkish Dried Date Sourcing Framework

Six-step Ramadan-aware procurement journey from origin and variety declaration through final FOB Mersin or Izmir container load and reefer ocean freight documentation.

1
Step 1: Origin & Variety Declaration
Begin date sourcing with explicit origin declaration (Tunisia Deglet Noor, Saudi Medjool Ajwa, Iran Mazafati Piarom, Algeria Aghlani, UAE Khalas, Egypt Siwa, Iraq Zahidi, native Turkish Gazipasa) plus variety grade classification (Jumbo, Super-Jumbo, Standard) to align Ramadan iftar, premium luxury, bakery industrial, or religious specialty end-use requirements.
2
Step 2: Halal Kosher & Religious-Compliance Documentation
Confirm halal certification tier (GIMDES Turkey, IFANCA USA, MUI Indonesia, JAKIM Malaysia depending on target market) plus Kosher OU OK Star-K CRC requirements; Ajwa religious-premium segments require supplementary Madinah-origin chain-of-custody documentation and factory halal-dedicated production run verification.
3
Step 3: COA Mycotoxin Pesticide Microbiology Package
Request Certificate of Analysis covering Aflatoxin B1+B2+G1+G2 below 4 ppb (EU Reg 2023/915 compliance), ochratoxin A below 10 ppb, pesticide residue panel EU MRL Reg 396/2005, microbiological total count bacterial yeast mold, heavy metals lead cadmium arsenic mercury ICP-MS quantification, moisture verification per Codex Stan 143-1985.
4
Step 4: Packaging Format Cold-Chain Specification
Specify bulk 10kg 12.5kg food-service carton, premium wooden-tray gift-box luxury 100g-500g Medjool, religious paper-wrap Ajwa 250g-1kg formats, pediatric cup-plus-lid single-serve, or Ramadan retail PET clamshell; semi-soft Mazafati requires cold-chain 2-8C reefer transit plus destination refrigerated warehouse handling.
5
Step 5: Ramadan Seasonal Ordering Logistics
Ramadan dispatch schedule requires 60-90 day advance booking given February-April peak demand cycle: 40-foot HC FCL reefer arrives EU ports 30-45 days before Ramadan start (Feb-Mar 2026), LCL consolidation arrives 15-30 days before, retail pack ready-date coordination with Muslim-heritage distributor networks.
6
Step 6: Import Documentation & Re-Export Compliance
Prepare commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, health certificate plus origin country certificate (Tunisia Saudi Iran Jordan) for re-export documentation, phytosanitary certificate, halal kosher letters, and organic transaction certificate for USDA NOP EU 2018/848 certified shipments per Turkey re-export chain-of-custody requirement.

Turkish Dried Date Sourcing FAQ (2026 Edition)

Fifteen buyer-focused questions covering Mersin-Izmir repack origins (Tunisia Deglet Noor, Saudi Medjool Ajwa, Iran Mazafati), native Turkish Gazipasa-Anamur production, halal Kosher religious documentation, Ramadan seasonal logistics, cold-chain Mazafati shipping, organic USDA NOP certification, private-label packaging, payment terms, and Japan Australia market coverage.

What origins of dates can Turkish processors supply for 2026 shipment?

Turkish Mersin-Izmir value-add repack facilities source from Tunisia Kebili-Tozeur (Deglet Noor), Saudi Arabia Al Qassim Al Hasa Madinah (Medjool Ajwa Sukkari Khalas), Iran Kerman (Mazafati Bam, Piarom, Zahidi), Algeria (Aghlani), UAE (Khalas), Egypt (Siwa), Iraq (Zahidi Khestawi), Oman (Khunaizi) with 85,000 metric ton annual repack throughput capacity, plus limited native Turkish Gazipasa-Anamur production 1,200 tons.

Does Turkey produce its own dates or only repack imported ones?

Turkey operates a dual-model: limited native Phoenix dactylifera production concentrated in Gazipasa-Anamur Mediterranean coastal microclimate belt plus Sanliurfa-Mardin Southeastern Anatolia trial orchards yielding approximately 1,200 tons annually of primarily Halawi and heirloom varieties, supplemented by large-scale 85,000-ton value-add repack processing of Tunisian Saudi Iranian Algerian origins via Mersin-Izmir FTZ facilities.

What certifications cover Turkish date repack facilities?

Leading Mersin-Izmir date processors hold BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9 AA+ highest audit grade, IFS Food Version 8 Higher Level, FSSC 22000 Version 6 (ISO 22000 + ISO TS 22002-1), Codex Stan 143-1985 dried dates compliance, USDA NOP, EU 2018/848, Halal GIMDES IFANCA MUI JAKIM multi-jurisdiction, Kosher OU OK Star-K CRC, and Non-GMO Project Verified.

How does Ramadan 2026 demand affect date sourcing timelines?

Ramadan 2026 falls February 17 through March 18 requiring EU port arrivals between December 2025 and January 2026 for retail shelf-stocking, meaning FCL reefer departures from FOB Mersin between November 2025 and early January 2026 with 40-foot container booking recommended 90 days in advance given shipping line allocation competition during the peak Ramadan export season.

What halal certification is required for EU Muslim-heritage markets?

EU Muslim-heritage retail programs typically require GIMDES Turkey halal certification (widely accepted across Germany-Turkish, France-Maghreb, UK-South-Asian heritage distribution) plus optional supplementary IFANCA USA and MUI Indonesia for cross-jurisdiction portability; Ajwa religious-premium segments additionally need Madinah-origin chain-of-custody documentation with mosque-affiliated distributor endorsements.

What are the moisture and storage requirements for different date types?

Dry dates (Deglet Noor Zahidi) 18-22 percent moisture store at cool ambient 15-18C with 2-year shelf stability; semi-dry (Medjool Khalas) 22-26 percent moisture require 10-15C cool storage 12-18 month shelf; soft dates (Mazafati Piarom Sukkari) 28-32 percent moisture mandate cold-chain 2-8C refrigerated transit and storage with 6-9 month shelf life under controlled conditions.

Are date paste and syrup (debs, pekmez) formats available?

Yes. Date paste 70-75 Brix homogenized in 20-25kg aseptic bag-in-box for bakery natural-sweetener refined-sugar-replacement industrial applications, plus date syrup (Arabic 'debs', Turkish 'hurma pekmezi') 68-72 Brix liquid consistency in 250g-500g glass jar retail plus bulk industrial 20kg pail formats for Levantine cuisine home-cook and bakery cake brownie reformulation program integration.

What is the typical container load and FOB Mersin freight timeline?

40-foot HC FCL reefer loads 18-20 metric tons of retail-packaged dates or 22-24 tons of bulk carton formats, 20-foot FCL reefer loads 10-11 tons retail or 12-13 tons bulk, with LCL consolidation starting from 2 pallets (approximately 2 tons), Mersin to EU ports 7-14 day transit, Mersin to UK 10-16 days, Mersin to CIS Black Sea 4-8 days, Mersin to North Africa 5-10 days.

Can Turkish date suppliers provide organic USDA NOP EU certification?

Yes. Organic Phoenix dactylifera is sourced from Tunisia Kebili Deglet Noor organic cooperatives, Israel-Jordan Valley Medjool organic orchards, plus Iran Bam Mazafati organic-transition suppliers, processed in dedicated USDA NOP EU 2018/848 JAS audited Mersin-Izmir clean-chain production lines with Ecocert IMO Kiwa certifier chain-of-custody, sulfur-free specification, organic transaction certificate per container documentation.

What is the difference between Medjool Deglet Noor and Mazafati dates?

Medjool ('King of Dates') is large-fruit soft 22-26 percent moisture caramel-sweet premium variety from Saudi-Jordan origin; Deglet Noor ('Finger of Light') is semi-dry translucent amber 22-26 percent moisture honey-flavored mid-price Tunisian standard; Mazafati Bam is soft-juicy 28-32 percent moisture dark-molasses Iranian cultivar requiring cold-chain, each serving distinct market segments and price tiers.

What is Ajwa date and why does it command premium pricing?

Ajwa is dark almost-black soft-dry cultivar from Madinah Al Munawwarah region of Saudi Arabia, historically cultivated by Prophet Muhammad according to Islamic hadith tradition making it religiously significant. Premium pricing reflects limited Madinah-region orchard geographic scarcity, Hajj-Umrah pilgrimage gift market demand, and chain-of-custody authentication requirements, typically 3-5x over standard date benchmarks.

Are sample shipments available for date buyer evaluation?

Yes. 500g-2kg courier sample shipments via DHL FedEx UPS TNT 3-5 business day worldwide delivery with full COA documentation, halal kosher certificates, organic transaction letters, packaging format photos, and variety grade reference photos attached. Sample fees USD 60-200 plus freight for premium Medjool-Ajwa variants, credited to first commercial invoice above 5 metric ton order.

Do Turkish date suppliers offer private-label Ramadan retail packaging?

Yes. Full private-label capability including custom PET clamshell, wooden-tray gift-box, paper-wrap religious packaging, 100g-1kg retail formats, client-supplied Ramadan-themed artwork, Arabic-Turkish-English multi-language labels, MOQ 3,000-5,000 units per SKU, regulatory label compliance verification for FDA EU-FIC Japan JAS Australia FSANZ target market jurisdictions, plus EAN-13 UPC-A barcode and nutrition panel localization.

What payment terms are typical for Turkish date re-export trade?

Standard payment terms are 30 percent TT advance plus 70 percent against copy of bill of lading, Letter of Credit at sight for established buyers, CAD documents against payment via bank, or Open Account 30-60 days for long-term Muslim-heritage distributor partners with Coface Atradius Euler Hermes Turk Eximbank state-backed trade credit insurance coverage.

Can Turkish date processors support Japan Australia halal markets?

Yes. Turkish date exports comply with Japan MHLW JAS Food Sanitation Law including positive-list pesticide MRL verification, Australia FSANZ Food Standards Code 1.6.1 microbiological criteria, JAKIM Malaysia halal certification, MUI Indonesia halal, plus 35-42 day reefer transit via Mersin-Singapore-Yokohama Sydney Auckland routing with MSC CMA CGM Evergreen weekly consolidation and full import documentation including health certificate, halal letter, and origin country re-export certificate.

Related Turkish Food and Export Categories

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Parent hub: dried fruits, nuts, spices, olive oil, and food export hub cross-category sourcing.

machinery, defense sectors share Mersin and Izmir port FCL infrastructure.