With the 10th Olivtech Olive, Olive Oil, Dairy Products, Wine and Technologies Fair organized by İZFAŞ and hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, the 11th Ecology İzmir, the only specialized fair of the organic sector in Turkey, was opened. Mayor Soyer said, "The main reason for these international efforts to feed our small producers where they were born is to turn our small producers into exporters."
The Olivtech Fair, organized by İZFAŞ with the support of the National Olive and Olive Oil Council (UZZK), hosted by İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, and the Ecology İzmir Fair, the only specialized fair of the organic sector in Turkey, organized with the support of the Ecological Agriculture Organization Association (ETO) are open. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer and his wife Neptün Soyer, CHP İzmir deputies Kani Beko, Bedri Serter, Ministry of Foreign Affairs İzmir Representative Ambassador Naciye Gökçen Kaya, CHP İzmir Provincial President Deniz Yücel, Germany İzmir Consul General Dr. Detlev Wolter, Tire Mayor Salih Atakan Duran, İzmir Chamber of Commerce Assembly President Selami Özpoyraz, İzmir Chamber of Craftsmen and Craftsmen's Union President Zekeriya Mutlu, National Olive and Olive Oil Council Chairman of the Board Mustafa Tan, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ertuğrul Tugay, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Municipality bureaucrats, council members, olive and olive oil producers, organic product producers and industry professionals attended the opening of the fairs that will continue until 29 May in İzmir. Within the scope of the fairs, there will be interviews, tasting and food shows with the participation of many famous names. The last two days of the four-day fairs will be open to the public and admission will be free. The fairs can be visited between 10:00 and 19:00.
Soyer: “The reason for our work is to turn our small producers into exporters”
Emphasizing the importance of combining Ecology and Olivtech Fairs, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tunç Soyer said, “The pandemic period has shown us that these two fairs are interconnected. Food security, health, healthy food and agriculture are intertwined. Each of these has a very close connection. We also want to bring to light the connection of ecology with agriculture. We are working by saying 'Another Agriculture is Possible'. What lay behind this was to implement agricultural policies that would ensure that the small producer would be satisfied where he was born. When the small producer moves away from his land and gives up production, the country begins to impoverish. It is moving away from being a self-sufficient country. We saw that the only way to feed our small producer in the place where he was born is to export. The main reason for these international studies we have done is to make our small producer an exporter. Between 2-11 September we will be doing Terra Madre for the same reason. Bringing our small producer together with the world, bringing the world together in İzmir... In fact, showing the world how valuable the whole story is.”
“Let it be a fair where the products of our small producers are marketed”
Mayor Soyer continued his speech as follows: “There are 5 basic products that we have been carrying in İzmir, the Aegean Region, since our ancient culture. The first is olive, the second is grape and fruit trees with low water needs, the third is grain, the fourth is pasture livestock and the fifth is coastal fishing. These five titles are indicators of agriculture in harmony with nature. If you focus on these products, you not only use your water resources more economically, but also exhibit much more delicious and healthy products in the world. Olive oil and its products, which our producer extracts from this immortal tree called the elixir of life, are unique in the world. It doesn't get the value it deserves. We are committed to working much harder. We will host visitors from different countries such as Germany, Algeria, Morocco, Netherlands, Spain, Iran, Italy, Libya and Tunisia at our fair. This fair will be a fair where many agreements are made, the commercial volume grows, and the products of our small producers are marketed internationally.”
After the opening, Mayor Soyer and his delegation toured the stands and met with the participants. Soyer had the opportunity to taste olive oil at Olivtech.
The meeting point of the industry "Olivtech"
Olivtech, which includes companies from Adana, Ankara, Aydın, Balıkesir, Bursa, Denizli, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Izmir, Kilis, Mersin, Muğla, Tekirdağ and abroad, from Libya and Morocco, especially Germany, Algeria, Morocco, visitors are also expected from the Netherlands, Iraq, Spain, Iran, Italy, Libya, Russia and Tunisia. Many manufacturers, importers, distributors, chefs, food industry professionals, bottle and packaging manufacturers, machinery manufacturers, chain supermarket purchasing committees, chain hotel buyers and all sectoral visitors will come together at Olivtech, where kitchen performances will be attended by famous chefs.
Everything organic
Ecology İzmir, which is the only fair where organic certified products representing Turkey internationally and all stakeholders of the sector participate, is held in Fair İzmir B hall. An “Organic Market” was established, where only organic products will take place during the fair. Ecology İzmir, where many companies from Antalya, Aydın, Bursa, Çanakkale, Denizli, Gaziantep, İzmir, İstanbul, Mersin, Muğla and Uşak participate, professional visitors from Germany, France, India, the Netherlands, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan will meet with the participants.
