Villagers recycle forest waste and produce Christmas wreaths. Wreaths made by the women of Antalya are exported to European countries for New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The wreaths that ornamental plants companies have been producing and exporting since the 1990s are made from completely natural forest residues such as pine waste, pine cones, elecampane and cypress branches, sandalwood and Mersin fruit.
Christmas wreaths used in areas such as doors, graveyards and dining tables are prepared by women in Antalya from August to the first week of December, in line with the orders of exporting companies.
İsmail Yılmaz, Chairman of the Ornamental Plants and Products Exporters’ Association, stated that the Christmas celebrations started on 24 December and that they prepared Christmas wreaths for this period.
Stating that they contribute to the economy by processing products that will become waste, Yılmaz said that all employees in this field are women.
500 THOUSAND CHRISTMAS WREATHS EXPORTED
Explaining that they export their Christmas wreaths to many European countries, Yılmaz said, “We mostly send them to countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, England, Denmark and Finland. This year, we exported approximately 500 thousand wreaths. According to the products used in the wreath, the price varies between 1 and 3 dollars.”
Stating that Turkey has an important potential in the field of ornamental plants, Yılmaz stated that there is a serious problem in the world due to the new type of coronavirus in the field of transportation.
Stating that there are problems in finding containers and pricing in air cargo transportation, Yılmaz noted that Turkey uses its logistics advantage since most of the ornamental plants are sent to European countries. (Ntv)
