A large to medium-sized fruit, it differs from other pomegranates grown in Türkiye with its thin and elastic skin, yellowish skin colour, and sweet-sour taste. Because of this sweet-sour taste, it is generally consumed as table pomegranate.

The recognition by the EU will help to protect the name and to promote the product and its unique characteristics, linked to geographical origin as well as traditional know-how. 

According to the Head of the EU Delegation, Ambassador Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, “Türkiye has a long-standing culinary tradition and history. Geographical indications add value to regional produce and protect them from counterfeit and fraud. Thanks to the logo, consumers know that they are getting the genuine Suruç Narı. This registration will bring wider recognition to the hard-working producers of this excellent pomegranate in Türkiye and in the EU.” 

The Suruç Narı was believed to be brought to the region from the Babylonian gardens. Since the genetic source of this pomegranate is Suruç, a town in Şanlıurfa province, its production has been sustained for centuries in the region. The pomological and organoleptic properties are shaped by local climate (the high temperature, high number of sunny days, relatively low relative humidity), and the water content of the soil. 

Water is essential for Suruç Narı to acquire its distinctive characteristics. The aquifers beneath the soil surface meet the water requirement of Suruç Narı during fruit development in the long and hot summer season. Long sunny days together with continuous water supply and relatively low relative humidity give Suruç Narı its unique taste, colour, and skin texture. Traditional experience of the local farmer to decide irrigation time and washing trees before harvesting contributes these properties.

Pomegranate producer Sabri Kaplan states, “The taste of the pomegranate changes even when grown 40 kilometres away from Suruç. This soil gives the taste of it.”

The "Suruç Narı" has become the first product registered by the EU as a geographical indication in Şanlıurfa, according to the Suruç Municipality.

"It is a very precious fruit, but its value is unknown. We hope that with the EU geographical indication, the pomegranate will gain its real value, and the export path will be opened," says, The Suruç Municipality Culture and Social Affairs Director Mahide Göktepe, who is conducting the application process.

The producers in Suruç are also happy with the development. Agricultural Engineer and Pomegranate Producer Mehmet Tekçe states, “The EU registration of 'Suruç Narı' is a good development for us. No longer we'll introduce the pomegranate to the world and protect our pomegranate trees together. Because they are in danger of extinction due to groundwater withdrawal. Some trees dried up. And most of them were removed by the producers and planted other products instead since they did not bear fruit due to lack of water. Out of 100,000 pomegranate trees, only 15,000 trees remained. In the 1990s, 20 villages of Suruç used to make a living from pomegranate cultivation; now, only two villages can make a living from pomegranates.”

The farmers have been following a traditional way of growing the “Suruç Narı”: irrigation starts when half of the trees bloom. July and August are critical irrigation months for fruit development. Irrigation time is decided by looking at the trees’ colour. Lack of water causes trees to darken and fruit skin to crack. Last irrigation is made by washing the trees to remove insects and spider webs just one or two weeks before harvesting. 

The EU has awarded PDO and PGI (protected geographical indication) status to the following foods from Türkiye: Antep Baklavası / Gaziantep Baklavası, Aydın Kestanesi”, "Aydın İnciri", "Bayramiç Beyazı", "Malatya Kayısısı", "Milas Zeytinyağı", "Taşköprü Sarımsağı" and the “Giresun Tombul Fındığı”, “Antakya Künefesi”, and after “Suruç Narı” “Çağlayancerit Cevizi” and “Gemlik Zeytini”.

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