Olive growing in the Marmara region

Olive growing concentrates along the southern shores of the Sea of Marmara. The region holds about 20 million olive trees — roughly 11% of Turkey's total. Around Mudanya, Gemlik, İznik, Erdek and Edincik the olive is grown as a monoculture.

Around Gölcük, Karamürsel, Yalova, Bandırma, Marmara Island, Eceabat, Biga, Lapseki, Bozcaada, Gökçeada and Gelibolu it is grown alongside other crops. ⚠ In parts exposed to northerly winds the trees are damaged by cold from time to time.

Marmara is Turkey's table-olive centre. About 60% of its crop goes to the table, a share no other region reaches; Bursa alone sends 61%.

The technical counterpart shows in extraction: in Bursa 4.4 kg of fruit yields a kilo of oil — the lowest figure in the country. Table varieties are selected for low to moderate oil content in the first place.

⚠ The region's distinct risk is cold. In parts exposed to northerly winds the trees suffer damage from time to time; the olive's temperature thresholds matter more here than elsewhere.

Marmara is also where varietal concentration is most visible: widespread Gemlik planting under certified-sapling support has pushed orchards towards a single variety.