Apricot Crop Ripens in Kyrgyzstan

The Kyrgyz Agriculture Ministry has announced the start of the early apricot harvest in the Jeti-Ögüz district of Issyk-Kul region.

The ripe apricots are mainly destined for export markets in Russia and Kazakhstan, The Caspian Post reports via Kyrgyz media.

Buyers arrive in trucks and purchase the fruits at favorable prices. Local residents said that fresh apricots are sold for between 30 and 45 soms ($0.0023-0.0035) per kilogram-a price considered profitable for the area. In contrast, apricot prices in previous years sometimes failed to reach even 20 soms ($0.0016).

A villager from Ak-Terek shared that this year’s apricot yield is abundant and buyers are plentiful. He also noted that the popular honey-sweet variety known as “Koroleva” is expected to ripen soon, promising another strong batch for the market.