site.btaTurkiye's Ayaş Tomato, Ezine Cheese Obtain EU's Protected Designation of Origin Status

A specific type of Turkish tomato from the area of Ayaş and the Ezine cheese have obtained the EU's protected designation of origin (PDO) status, the EU delegation to Turkiye told BTA. This brings the number of Turkish products with an EU protected status to 18, and another 40 await to obtain it.

The head of the EU delegation to Turkiye, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, said that this recognition will not only inspire producers in various areas of Ankara and the neighbouring districts but will also play a very important role for buyers. 

The tomatoes grown in Ayaş are relatively big and very juicy. They differ from other tomatoes grown in Turkiye with their thin skin that is pink-red in colour. They have a slightly salty taste and a lemon aroma because of their high acidity. They have been grown in Ayaş since the 1960s.

Ayaş Mayor Mustafa Sezer expressed satisfaction at the news of the obtained PDO status, which he believes will contribute to a bigger export to the EU in the summer.

The Ezine cheese is the first Turkish cheese to obtain a PDO status, the EU delegation to Turkiye noted. It is made in the area of Ezine, Bayramici, and Ayvalık in the northwestern part of the country. It contains at least 40% goat milk, 35% to 45% sheep milk, and 20% to 25% cow milk. It is light yellow in colour and semi-hard. 

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli said, as quoted by Turkish media, that some of the cheeses of the highest quality are made in his country, and Turkiye presents these unique tastes to the world.