In Aydin, Turkey, where strawberries are cultivated in expansive greenhouses, workers face grueling conditions to earn their livelihood. Despite temperatures soaring to fifty degrees Celsius, these laborers endure extreme heat, constant bending, and physically demanding tasks to harvest strawberries, a vital crop for the region.
A Major Strawberry Hub
Aydin is Turkey’s second-largest strawberry-producing center, with 2,400 hectares of greenhouse space dedicated to this lucrative crop. The renowned “Sultanhisar strawberry,” which holds a geographical indication, is primarily grown in the districts of Sultanhisar and Kosk. Each year, this region produces approximately 95,000 tons of strawberries, providing employment for about 10,000 people.
Daily Struggles in the Heat
The workers, starting their shifts at sunrise, labor through the intense heat, taking brief breaks and consuming copious amounts of water to stay hydrated. The greenhouse environment, exacerbated by the plastic covers, traps heat, pushing temperatures to as high as 50 degrees Celsius, well above the outside temperatures.
Belguzar Cona, one of the workers, highlighted the severity of their working conditions: “Inside the greenhouse, it is 45 degrees when the outside temperature is 35. It can be intolerable at times. People even faint occasionally.” Cona’s sentiment is echoed by many, as they continue to work out of necessity despite the harsh environment.
Economic Realities
The economic remuneration for this labor is modest. Male workers earn $23 per day, while female workers receive $19 per day. Despite the challenges, these wages are crucial for their survival and the support of their families. Selma Asrak, another worker, shared her plight: “Even though we finish work at noon, sometimes it is so hot, we cannot stand it. I came to work to support my family. Strawberries are hard to find in the grass but this is our life.”
Lack of Alternatives
For many in the region, there are few job alternatives. The limited employment opportunities force workers like Guler Cakmak and Naciye Geris to endure these challenging conditions. Geris remarked on the common misconception about their work: “People around her say, ‘What a great job you have,’ but they don’t know how hot it is in the greenhouse. It’s really difficult in the greenhouse. When you stand there for 5 minutes, you understand how it is, but we have to do what to do.”
Conclusion
The plight of greenhouse workers in Aydin underscores the intersection of economic necessity and harsh working conditions. As the demand for strawberries remains high, these laborers continue to toil under extreme temperatures, highlighting the need for improved working conditions and better economic opportunities in the region.
