The Moro variety of 'Mersin blood orange' has received geographical indication registration

Thanks to the obtained geographical indication registration, the production of the nearly forgotten 'Mersin blood orange' will be encouraged, increasing its cultivation by farmers. Through innovative products, the presence of blood oranges on local and national shelves will expand, ensuring that future generations can also enjoy this fruit.

The registration efforts, which have been ongoing for two years, have finally paid off. Since 2020, the Mersinden Women's Cooperative has been working to sustain the production of Mersin blood oranges. Under the 'Mersinden Brand,' they have been selling both fresh and dried forms of the fruit and introduced products like blood orange lemonade and dried blood orange tea to consumers. By raising awareness among producers, the cooperative aimed to add value to the Mersin blood orange, which had been neglected, with trees being cut down and the fruit no longer registered in the Farmer Registration System. In 2022, the cooperative initiated efforts to secure geographical indication status for the fruit. Collaborating with the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Agricultural Services Department, Prof. Dr. Yavuz Tekeli, President of the Local Products and Geographical Indications Research Network of Turkey, and Metro Turkey, they embarked on the registration process. After two years of dedicated work, the Mersinden Women's Cooperative succeeded in obtaining the geographical indication registration for the blood orange.

The goal is to revive blood orange production. Having successfully completed the geographical indication registration process, the Mersinden Women's Cooperative will continue to uphold the responsibilities that come with this certification. They will strictly manage governance and oversight processes and keep developing innovative products related to blood oranges. By getting these products onto store shelves, they aim to further encourage producers and increase production. The geographical indication registration, which serves as an incentive for production, will also help raise the profile of blood oranges.

"Mersin blood orange geographical indication registration is a blessing for Mersin and our country."
Meral Seçer, President of the Mersinden Women's Cooperative Board, stated, "As the Mersinden Women's Cooperative, we have obtained the geographical indication for Mersin blood oranges, a unique asset of the citrus paradise Mersin. This blood orange, with its taste, scent, and color derived from this land, was facing extinction. We began our efforts in 2020 to ensure its continuation for future generations and to encourage farmers not to give up on its production. We facilitated its presence on national shelves, both as fresh fruit and in dried form through our solar-powered drying facility."

Seçer emphasized the importance of geographical indication registration in protecting products and preserving their stories, adding, "Geographical indication products are official quality marks that contribute to protecting the products, the environment, and nature, while also benefiting gastronomy, tourism, and rural development, ensuring people can thrive where they were born. We hope the geographical indication registration for Mersin blood oranges will be beneficial for Mersin and our country."