The historic city of Giresun is located in the heart of the Pontic Mountains in northeastern Turkey, an area where hazelnuts have been cultivated since ancient times. Turkey produces over 72% of the world’s hazelnuts, with the Eastern Black Sea region, particularly Giresun, accounting for more than 60% of this amount.
The Greek historian Herodotus, in the fifth century BC, mentioned the abundance of hazelnuts in this area, highlighting the region’s long-standing history in hazelnut production.
However, this rich agricultural heritage now faces new challenges. Climate change is increasingly affecting crops, with rising humidity and the spread of pests threatening the trees and increasing the likelihood of diseases. According to plant protection expert and farmer, Sebat Özman Sulivan, “The spread of new pests in recent years poses a serious threat to hazelnut farming here.”
Despite these challenges, women in the region are making significant efforts to preserve this industry, which is a vital part of their cultural heritage. Many, like Sayari Songur, one of the owners of “Home of Hazelnut,” a company run by three sisters, play a crucial role in the production and sale of hazelnuts.
Even with the climate-related obstacles faced by hazelnut farmers in Giresun, they remain committed to their ancient agricultural traditions, working hard to protect their unique environment, which blends mountains and sea, to ensure the sustainability of hazelnut cultivation for future generations.