Golden Yellow Sesame Harvest Begins in Muğla: Greatest Demand Comes from Japan
In Ula district of Muğla, the harvest season has begun for Gökova sesame, which stands out for its dry-farming method and unique aroma. Grown in the agricultural lands of Akçapınar and Akyaka neighborhoods, this golden yellow sesame is an important source of livelihood for producers in the region, and is in high demand, especially by the Japanese, for use in sushi. The wind and humidity of Gökova give the sesame seeds a unique aroma. The sesame harvest season has begun in the fertile agricultural lands surrounding Muğla's world-famous Gökova Bay. Produced in the Akçapınar and Akyaka neighborhoods, Gökova sesame stands out with its unique aroma and scent, thanks to the region's distinctive climate conditions. The moisture carried by Gökova's winds is effective in the development of the sesame grown in the region. Grown using dry farming methods, the product attracts attention in the fields with its golden yellow color during the harvest season It is produced using traditional methods. Sesame plants are hand-harvested and stacked in the field after ripening. Following 21 days of drying in the field, they are hand-threshed using natural methods, then sifted to prepare the product. The production process, which involves no technological intervention, is carried out using traditional farming methods and delivered to the consumer. Japan is the biggest buyer of Gökova sesame. Gökova sesame seeds are in demand not only domestically but also, and especially, from Japan. Used in the preparation of sushi, a key ingredient in Japanese cuisine, sesame seeds are purchased annually from the region through traders and exported to Japan. While Japan purchased yellow sesame seeds from exporting companies at $4.70 per kilogram (230 TL) in 2025, the price in the sesame market for this year has not yet been announced. The expected retail price in the domestic market for 2026 is 200 TL, while the wholesale price is expected to be 180 TL. There is a labor shortage. The use of dry farming methods in the production of Gökova sesame is also important in terms of the product's adaptation to the region's natural conditions. Sesame, grown in a region where rainfall is very low, especially during the summer months, comes to life in the fields using traditional farming methods by the producers. It was stated that the biggest problem for producers is finding workers. Workers come from rural neighborhoods of Köyceğiz district, 80-90 kilometers away, to harvest the product from the fields. "There is high demand from foreigners." Producer Nilgün Sarıoğlu said, "This is organic and natural. It grows in our fields because the soil underneath is moist. It also gets natural dew and the salty air of the sea. That's why it grows without water. It's organic. There's nothing wrong with it, it's organic and natural. There's a lot of demand, many people want it, many retail customers want it. By the kilo. Foreigners always buy it by the kilo. May God bless us with abundance. This year is even better. The Japanese use it in sushi. Here we call it 'çitirmek'. It's made from that." "We can't find workers to hire." Adem Akyüz, who has been a sesame producer for 20 years, said, "Gökova sesame is dry sesame. It's natural, fertilizer-free. We don't use fertilizer. Normally, some people use it, some don't. Right now, we're sifting it like this. We're putting it into the trailer. We'll sift it tomorrow. It's all handwork. There are no workers, they can't be found."
Source: https://www.gercekfethiye.com/mugla-da-altin-sari-susam-hasadi-basladi-en-buyuk-talep-japonya-dan/130412/