News

A FESTIVAL, MOST FRAGRANT AND ABUNDANT OF VITAMINS

31.01.2023

MAYOR ARAS, “DO NOT LEAVE YOUR MANDARIN ORCHARDS”

This Year, ‘The Bodrum Tangerine Festival’ with the concept of "A Mandarin Festival 2023" was celebrated enthusiastically in Bitez Neighborhood. ‘The Mandarin Festival’, which was held in the centre of Bitez to raise awareness of the protection and importance of Bodrum's geographic indicated local product ‘Mandarin’ was attended by an enormous number of visiters.

Numerous events were organized within the scope of the festival held in cooperation with the District Governorate of Bodrum, Bodrum Municipality, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce, the Mukhtar of Bitez Neighborhood, Bodrum Chamber of Agriculture, ‘Bitez Association for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets’, Bodrum City Council & Geographical Indications Working Group and Bodrum Mandarin Movement.

Bilgehan Bayar, the District Governer of Bodrum; Ahmet Aras, the Mayor of Bodrum; Durmuş Çakır, Bodrum District Director of Agriculture and Forestry; Mahmut Kocadon, the President of BODTO; members of the municipal council; Seda Özgüçlü, the Mukhtar of Bitez Neighborhood; Mehmet Melengeç, the President of Bodrum Chamber of Agriculture; Mustafa Menkü, the President of BİTAV (Bitez Association for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets); the members of ‘Bodrum Tangerine Movement Committee’; Zülfü Livaneli, the Artist; Nebil Özgentürk, the documentary producer; former mayors of Bodrum; representatives of NGOs, chambers and political parties and citizens attended the festival.

Non-poisonous Agriculture Is Doable

Within the scope of the festival, a seminar under the title of " Non-poisonous Agriculture Is Doable with Agrohomeopathy" attended by the local mandarin producers was held at the BODTO Conference Hall on Saturday, January 28. The Seminar was presented by the agrohomeopath Önder Mergan and the agriculture and food writer Bilge Keykubat.

Tangerines from the Municipal Garden Were Loaded on Camels’ Backs

‘A Tangerine Harvest Festival’, organized in order to prevent the destruction of tangerine orchards succumbing to concrete, one of Bodrum's indispensable values, to increase the commercial value of this geographical indicated local product and to raise awareness of it increasing its usage areas in the indsutry and diversifying its recipes, a cortege parade to the mandarin orchards was organized, which finished at the event square in the centre of Bitez neighborhood.

After the speeches, District Governer of Bodrum Bayar presented an handmade plaque, made by the children of ‘Turgutreis Disabled Health Foundation’ to Mayor Aras; Barış Saylak, the Director of Provincial Agriculture; Seda Özgüçlü, the Mukhtar of Bitez Neighborhood; Mehmet Melengeç, the President of Bodrum Chamber of Agriculture; Mustafa Menkü, the President of BİTAV (Bitez Association for the Protection of Cultural and Natural Assets); President Akın of BOFAD (Bodrum Folklore Research & Tourism Foundation Club) for their valuable contributions.

Tousands of Visitors at the Festival

Thousands of visitors showed great interest in the festival alongside the local folk dance & other stage performances of local artists and the local dishes of Bodrum made with mandarins by chefs held during the festival.

İbrahim Çömez, the former Mayor of Bitez Neighborhood won ‘the most beautiful mandarin orchard competition’ held within the scope of the "A Mandarin Festival", which was hosted by Ateş.

Local Bodrum tangerine products made by producing women of Bodrum and by the Directorate of Agricultural Services of Bodrum Municipality as well were presented at dozens of booths and sold getting full marks. Tangerine-themed jewelry, handcrafted products and souvenirs at the booths attracted great interest of the visitors.