BİZİM İÇİN REKLAM DEĞER ÜRETİRKEN HESAP VEREBİLMEKTİR...

It is the seed that makes people grow, that makes them grow and give branches. You plant and wait. You know it will root and crack the soil. You know, you gave life to life with your own hands. The seed is the substance, you have learned from your ancestors. Your hopes will multiply, as you take root. As days pass, you wait, hectic. Such is everywhere the thousand-year history of those who planted life and soil. This flow is shaped by another ritual in Bakırçay Basin. It is unique to these lands that melons are wrapped in quilts while harvesting Kırkağaç Melon on the Aegean plains, where vintages turn into divine feasts. This ritual, which is a sign of care for labor and life; it is also the love of the sower with the seed.

 

 

Kırkağaç, which has been in written sources since ancient Anatolia; He took refuge at the foot of Yunt Mountain. It is Bakırçay that gives life to the Kırkağaç Plain, which includes many ancient settlements in its geography. Bakırçay, which originates from the Ömer Mountain in the south of Balıkesir: It takes the name Bakırçay as it passes near the Bakırçay district of Kırkağaç in the south. Passing Bergama between Madra and Yunt Mountains, it pours into İzmir - Çandarlı Bay. This river, which leaves its blessings to all the plains it passes through; It enabled the establishment of many ancient cities. As a symbol of abundance; It continues to keep the world's oldest olive tree, which produces four kinds of olives, in Kırkağaç.

 

 

The regional distribution of Turkish melons has a special place among the world's melon varieties, as they carry all the characteristics of the microclimate in which they are located. In general, 44 types of melons are grown in our country. The most well-known and prominent species are: Kırkağaç, Topatan, Hasanbey, Sıhke (Van), Meriç Black Melon, Yozgat Bağrıüstü, Pamukova (Sakarya), Altınbaş Kızılırmak (Çankırı), Kazan (Ankara), Çeşme (İzmir) melon varieties. . The feature of Kırkağaç Melon is; There are dark green spots on the yellow. When cut, the inner core bed is completely filled. Its fiber is denser than other melons. The seed bed called Etem is orange in color. Harvest of this melon, which is done in October and May, starts on 15 August. Kırkağaç Melon, which is one of the genetic sources of Anatolian melons; seeds are given to registered producers by Kırkağaç Chamber of Agriculture in order to preserve their genetic structure. At the end of the production, it is presented to the market with the geographical indication product label.

 

 

PRODUCT YEAR	PRODUCTION AREA	PRODUCE AMOUNT	NUMBER OF MANUFACTURERS
2017	6.172.531,86	18.517.595,58	693 KİŞİ
2018	4.902.923,94	14.708.771,82	602 KİŞİ
2019	4.009.418,18	12.028.254,54	558 KİŞİ
2020	4.149.375,74	12.448.127,22	554 KİŞİ
2021	3.946.268,44	11.838.805,32	562 KİŞİ

The Geographical Indication Journey of Kırkağaç Melon

 

Geographical borders: Kırkağaç Melon with villages of Bakır, İlyaslar, Karakurt, Gelenbe Towns, Bostancı, Ali Fakı, Alacalar, Pregnant, Yağmurlu, Musa Hoca, Küçük Yaya, Öveçli, Işıklar, Kuyucak, Söğüt Alan, Hamitli, especially in Kırkağaç central plain. An application for registration was made by Kırkağaç Municipality. The origin application was accepted by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on January 18, 2008 and registered as our geographical indication product no. 107.

 

 

Herbal Features:

Root: The roots of the Kırkağaç melon plant usually develop superficially. Abundant hairy roots are formed around the pile root, which can go down to a depth of 40-50 cm in well-prepared soil conditions.

 

Body: Herbaceous, rounded and covered with hard hairs at the beginning and creeping on the ground, later gains a partially hard structure. The trunk can grow 2-3 m and generally produces 3-6 lateral branches. There are thin and long leeches on the body.

 

Leaf: In the melon plant, which bears round and partially heart-shaped deeply lobed leaves, the leaves are pentagonal and segmented. Leaf width is 10.5-14.5, length is 7.5-11.0 cm, petiole is 6.0-14.0 cm long. The leaves are hairy under and above. The leaves can be green or dark green depending on the plant nutritional conditions. The petiole is long and corrugated in the middle.

 

Flower: It has biologically monoecious flowers. The female flowers usually emerge singly from the leaf axils. There is a short stem and fruit outline, and 5 segmented yellow petals at the tip of the fruit outline and a stigma (stigma) in the middle of these leaves.

 

Fruit: There are 2 different varieties of Kırkağaç Melon registered as Kırkağaç-589 and Kırkağaç-637. In both cultivars, the fruit skin is medium-thick (0.5-0.7 cm), rough, embroidered and green spotted on a yellow background. Among these varieties, Kırkağaç-589 variety is long and cylindrical in shape, its stem is pointed and protruding like a breast, the tip of the flower is round and it can be stored in the winter season. This is the variety commonly grown in Kırkağaç Region. It has the ability to be stored for a long time. Kırkağaç-637 variety generally has a round fruit structure. Fruit shell structure and color are the same. In some regions, this variety is also called Altınbaş. This variety is considered as summer, it does not last long in winter storage.

 

Some fruit characteristics of Kırkağaç Melon cultivars are given in the table below.

 

 

Fruit Feature	Kırkağaç -589	Kırkağaç -637
Average fruit weight (gr)	2.500-5.700	2.200-4.500
Fruit diameter (cm)	17.0-21.0	18.5-28.5
Fruit size (cm)	22.0-33.0	19.0-27.5
Fruit skin thickness (cm)	0.5-0.9	0.3-0.5
Fruit thickness (cm)	3.7-5.5	3.5-6.5
Core house weight (cm)	350-415	250-300
Core house diameter (cm)	4.5-7.5	6.0-9.0
Core house length (cm)	14.0-16.0	8.5-11.0
SÇKM (%)	10.8-13.0	11.4-13.2
Fruit flesh flavor	Çok	Çok
Fruit juiciness	Sulu	Çok sulu
Fruit pulp fiber	Az	Az

Fruit characteristics were found to be similar in populations with a large production area in Kırkağaç region. Especially the fruit characteristics of Kırkağaç-589 certified variety and the fruit characteristics of these local village varieties show great similarities.

 

Production Method:

 

Production: The field where melon production will be carried out is plowed at a depth of 40-50 cm in autumn and it is ensured that it spends the winter in this way. If necessary, it is applied superficially a second time in the appropriate soil tempering in the spring, the soil is thinned by pulling the disc harrow and the bobbins are opened with an arc plow (pig nose) at 120-150 cm row distances. 3-4 seeds are planted in the hearths opened at 50-70 cm spacing on the neck points of the bobbins, and they are corrected by hand by covering them. Sowing depth of seeds should be 5-6 cm. Seed sowing should be done in suitable soil tempering. After planting in the appropriate temperament, the seeds germinate in about a week and emerge on the soil. Seed sowing is generally done between 1-10 May in the region.

 

When the seedlings that come to the soil surface take out 1-2 real leaves, a plant is left in each quarry with the first hoeing process. When these plants get 10-15 cm tall, the second hoe is made by hand and the throat filling process is applied. The rows are processed with a tractor tiller and cultivator. When the plants start to cover the soil surface by throwing arms, the irrigation arcs are opened and the plants are allowed to develop normally. During dry periods, water should be given 2-3 times. There is no excessive irrigation in Kırkağaç Region. Because excessive irrigation application adversely affects the fruit taste. When the fruits, which are formed as a result of the formation and pollination of flowers on the plant, usually reach the size of a lemon, they are diluted by hand and generally 2-3 fruits per plant are left. The operations to be carried out after this stage are irrigation, fertilization and agricultural struggle.

 

Irrigation: Excessive irrigation negatively affects the taste and aroma of melon fruits. In very dry years, irrigation is done 2-3 times. In years when precipitation distribution is suitable, production can be made without irrigation or with 1-2 water. Irrigation water should not come into contact with the root collar of the plant.

 

Fertilization: Melon loves organic matter. According to the soil analysis results, if necessary, 4-5 tons of well-burned farm manure is laid per decare before the first tillage and mixed with the soil with the tillage. Before the bobbins are opened, the necessary fertilization is applied in the form of compound (15: 15: 15, 18: 46 and Triple Super Phosphate) according to the analysis results. A second nitrogen fertilizer application is made during the fruit thinning period.

 

Agricultural Control: Diseases such as anthracnose, powdery mildew, wilt, mosaic virus, and red spider, aphid, thrips and melon fly are the most important melon pests. In production, appropriate control should be made with these diseases and pests in place and on time. Integrated combat app is recommended in my war.

 

Alteration: Melon production should be done in the same field at intervals of 3-4 years. In the years after melon production, different family crops such as dry farming (wheat-barley), corn, peas, tomatoes and cotton should be produced.

 

 

The desire of the modern consumer to experience has increased significantly in our country, as in all cultures, in recent years. This interest; It is certain that it will become more evident as the flow rate of information increases. In a niche market like geographically indicated products, Kırkağaç Melon will also open up a space for itself. Supporting this area with marketing communication elements will not only strengthen brand communication but also support the manufacturer and its production. Supporting the traditional communication efforts with strategic concepts will make a serious contribution to his awareness. As it is known, when the famous Japanese Yubari Melon is first harvested, the opening price is sometimes sold for 28 thousand dollars, even if it is symbolic. The effective effect of this symbolic ceremony makes a significant contribution to its awareness and brand value. The marketing communication created through this event makes it special and unique. One of the strategic concepts to be created for Kırkağaç Melon, which includes different marketing communication strategies, is its positioning as the melon of Ancient Anatolia. In addition to the historical depth, the tradition of production and gastronomy should be internalized in the strategic narrative to be created at this point. Besides, it is possible to use melon as a table product: jam, cake, pickles, vinegar, ice cream, fruit juice, fruit yoghurt, fruit salad. The reason why Turkish melons are not able to hold on in the nearby markets is to reduce them to sales and marketing problems only, and to cast a shadow over the marketing communication studies that need to be done.

 

The melon, which has always found a place in the Ottoman imperial cuisine; It has always been preferred because it creates different flavors. Especially the taste of stuffed melon was so valuable that it could be included in cookbooks. Kırkağaç Melon, which is a late variety, is important in fission kitchens with this feature. In this context, 'creating value', which is one of the main purposes in marketing communication, can only be achieved by giving meaning to the product and service.

 

The Kırkağaç Melon, whose dowry quilts were sacrificed while being brought from the field to the warehouse; packaging it with the right corporate identity will give it a distinctive feature in the market. Preservation of this domestic variety, whose production is decreasing systematically every year, and transferring its characteristics to the market as a geographically indicated product stands before us as a fundamental necessity.

 

Kemal CIFCI

Brand Consultant

General Secretary of the Geographical Indications Association

30 August 2021 - Akpinar – Ankara

 

Source:

1-http://www.ziraatfakultesi.com/tavsiye/kavun-cesitleri.html

2-http://www.tmmob.org.tr/icerik/zmo-2019-kavun-raporu

3-Kırkağaç Chamber of Agriculture Presidency

4-Emin Özarı / President of Kırkağaç Chamber of Agriculture