Olive growing in the Karadeniz region

Though never dense, olives are grown all along the Black Sea coast. They survive in parts of Zonguldak, Kastamonu, Sinop, Ordu, Samsun, Trabzon and Artvin that are sheltered from northerly winds. Alongside the region's own local varieties, cultivars from other regions have appeared in recent years.

⚠ Olive growing here is declining year by year and losing its importance. In Artvin, Trabzon, Samsun and Sinop it survives only in local pockets. Even so, six local varieties are on record — none of them with published measurements.

Olive growing on the Black Sea coast is in retreat. The region holds 0.2% of the area and 2.2% of output, surviving only in local pockets in Artvin, Trabzon, Samsun and Sinop.

The olive grows here in microclimates sheltered from northerly winds. The Çoruh valley in Artvin is one such area — and the flooding of part of it by dam reservoirs is a concrete cause of the region's contraction.

Even so the region holds six local varieties: Butko, Gölvala, Marantelli, Otur, Patos and Sat. ⚠ None has published measurements and none has a page here. In a region where olive growing is economically retreating, this is the genetic pool at greatest risk of disappearing.