Bursa Black Fig

Bursa Black… Oral history records indicate that the Bursa Black Fig has been extensively cultivated for many years, primarily in the village of Dürdane and especially along the Mudanya-Gemlik axis. It has long been an integral part of the production and consumption culture throughout the entire province.

"Bursa Black Fig has a very long history, with records appearing even in the Ottoman archives. The sales prices of various fruits and vegetables—including onions, cherries, fresh apricots, plums, pears, apples, peaches, pomegranates, figs, cranberries, lemons, citrus fruits, chestnuts, olives, hazelnuts, medlars, lettuce, melons, watermelons, cucumbers, broad beans, zucchinis, eggplants, and carrots—are detailed in the 1502 Bursa Ihtisab Law (Kanunnâme) (Akgündüz, 1990).

Extensively cultivated in the province of Bursa, the Bursa Black Fig is a fruit unique to this region (Tepeli, 2019). While initially planted as border trees, the onset of exports and surging demand in the mid-1980s led to the establishment of dedicated orchards. It is in high demand internationally, as no plant protection pesticides—other than copper-based preparations—are used during its production.