Jujube: A Value-Added Fruit That Thrives on Arid, Difficult Land

In Edirne, retired grower Kenan Kırca tends 120 jujube trees on a 1.5-decare plot, a venture he started about 15 years ago with just a few seedlings. He notes that trees start bearing after their third year, the harvest lasts about a month, and the fruit is picked in stages because it does not all ripen at once. (Source: Yeni Şafak)

Jujube stands out as a lower-maintenance crop than many fruits. Kırca says it can survive on all kinds of land — even sloping and somewhat difficult terrain — and that the main issue is the fruit worm, controlled by spraying.

The fruit is used not only fresh but in many forms: marmalade, molasses, and sliced or whole dried fruit. Jujube is known to be rich in vitamin C and is traditionally called the "immortality fruit" in China — a cultural nickname, not a medical claim.

A fruit that can grow on arid, difficult land, needs little care and converts into value-added products, jujube is worth considering for crop diversification on the dry farmland of our own region (Güney, Buldan, Eşme). See our Products page for our range and harvest calendar.