As the fig harvest gets underway in Aydın province in southwestern Türkiye, production of “fig chips” has also begun, bringing the region’s famed figs to consumers in Türkiye and abroad.
Aydın figs are among Türkiye’s geographically registered products recognized by the European Union. The province produces figs on about 40,000 hectares of farmland, yielding an average of 200,000 tons a season. About 70,000 tons are dried and exported, while some figs are sold fresh.
Another portion of the harvest is sliced thinly and dried to make what producers call “fig chips,” a product that is increasingly finding its way onto tables in Türkiye and overseas.
In and around the Nazilli district of Aydın province, small businesses and households produce fig chips as a way to generate additional income.
The process begins with freshly picked figs being sliced thinly by hand. The slices are arranged on special drying racks known locally as kerevet and left to dry in shaded areas, such as covered terraces or home gardens, away from direct sunlight. After about three to four days, the dried figs are packaged and prepared for sale.
