Seed and Industrial Potato Harvest Underway in the Konya Plain
Key takeaways
- 7 Dutch-bred varieties registered by Gozde Zirai since 2021
- 2021: Ayaz and Gioconda were the first varieties registered
- 2025: Norman was the seventh variety registered in Turkey
- 5 provinces hosted trials, including Konya and Nevsehir
Why it matters
- For farmers
- Check whether Ayaz, Cardyma or Norman fit your rotation before ordering seed for the next Turkish planting window.
- For processors
- Line up trial lots of Alverstone Russet and Norman now — both are positioned as chip/fry stock entering wider Turkish supply.
60-second summary
Harvest crews are working around the clock on the Konya Plain in Turkey, one of the country's largest potato-growing regions, with mechanized digging by paired tractors followed by manual sorting into bags and crates for truck transport. The work is led by Gozde Zirai Urunler Paketleme, a Nevsehir-based seed-potato company that has partnered with Dutch breeder HZPC to register seven varieties in Turkey since 2021, per the country's variety registration reports: Ayaz and Gioconda in 2021, Alverstone Russet in 2022, Camelia, Cardyma and Rashida in 2023, and Norman in 2025. Trials ran across five provinces, including Konya, Nevsehir, Niğde, Sivas and Kayseri. The tubers being lifted match the oval shape and light-yellow skin typical of the HZPC-bred processing and table varieties the company markets locally. The season, which began in mid-August, is expected to run into late autumn, covering both seed and table/processing output. Photos were supplied by Gozde Zirai.
The potato harvest is in full swing across the Konya Plain in Turkey, with crews working from dawn until dusk: mechanized digging is followed immediately by manual sorting and loading.
The work is being carried out by Gözde Zirai Ürünler Paketleme Nak. ve Gıda San. Tic. Ltd. Şti., a Nevşehir-based seed-potato company that has partnered for years with the Dutch breeder HZPC. Through that partnership, Gözde Zirai has registered seven Dutch-bred varieties in Turkey since 2021, according to the country’s variety registration reports (Bitki Çeşitleri Tescil Raporları): Ayaz and Gioconda in 2021, Alverstone Russet in 2022, Camelia, Cardyma and Rashida in 2023, and Norman in 2025. The lineup covers processing types for chips and French fries — Ayaz, Alverstone Russet, Cardyma and Norman — alongside table varieties Camelia and Gioconda, with trials conducted across five provinces: Konya, Nevşehir, Niğde, Sivas and Kayseri.
In the field, two tractors fitted with trailed two-row diggers move in tandem along neighboring rows, turning the tubers to the surface. Behind them, workers pick through the soil by hand, sorting the crop into bags and crates for onward transport by truck.
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The tubers themselves — oval, light-yellow-skinned and uniform in size — match the visual profile of the HZPC-bred lines that Gözde Zirai has brought to the Turkish market.
Konya is one of the country’s principal potato-growing areas. The local season typically opens in mid-August and runs into late autumn, contributing heavily to Turkey’s combined seed and table/processing output.
Photos courtesy of Gözde Zirai.
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What next
The harvest is expected to continue into late autumn across Turkey's main growing provinces, covering both seed and table/processing potato output.
Sources
- Turkey's potato variety registration reports (Bitki Çeşitleri Tescil Raporları), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Photos and company background supplied by Gözde Zirai Ürünler Paketleme Nak. ve Gıda San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.
Linked in this material
- Country
- Turkey
- Companies
- Gözde Zirai Ürünler Paketleme Nak. ve Gıda San. Tic. Ltd. Şti.; HZPC IPR B.V.; HZPC Holland B.V.
- Sections
- News
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