Fresh Fruits | Inspection guide

Lemon Inspection in Turkey

Turkey is among the world's leading lemon exporters, with Mersin as the centre of production. Lemons are degreened, washed, waxed and treated in packhouses, so residue control and post-harvest treatment labelling are as important as size and colour.

Request an inspection Quality parameters

Season: September to May
Main regions: Mediterranean, Aegean
Category: Fresh Fruits
Key tests: Multi-residue pesticide screening including post-harvest fungicides such as imazalil and thiabendazole; Juice content

01Product overview

Main varieties include Interdonato (early), Kütdiken, Lamas and Meyer
Graded by diameter, colour and juice content
Typically waxed and treated with post-harvest fungicides

02Turkish production regions

Mersin (especially Erdemli and Silifke) is the core area, with Adana, Hatay, Antalya and Muğla.

03Harvest and production season

Early lemons from September; main season October to May.

January, in season
February, in season
March, in season
April, in season
May, in season
June
July
August
September, in season
October, in season
November, in season
December, in season

Typical window: September to May. Timing shifts with altitude, variety and weather. See the full Turkish harvest calendar.

04Export characteristics

Turkish lemons are trucked to Europe and Russia and shipped by sea reefer to the Middle East and beyond. Export volumes can be affected by temporary national export measures in some seasons.

05Typical quality parameters

Quality parameters for Lemons
Parameter	What is checked
Size	Diameter code per the UNECE citrus standard or contract
Colour	Degree of yellow, and degreening condition
Juice content	Minimum percentage by weight
Rind	Thickness and texture
Defects	Wind scars, oleocellosis, mites, decay, stem-end rot

Limits and tolerances come from your contract and the applicable standard. We do not apply generic values where a contract specification exists.

06Visual inspection criteria

Green or uneven colour after degreening
Oleocellosis (oil spotting) from handling
Mite and wind scarring
Green and blue mould (Penicillium)
Wax coverage and residue marks

07Sampling methods

Sampling follows the method in the contract or, by default, the OECD and EU conformity check approach: a number of packages drawn at random from each lot in proportion to lot size, opened and examined unit by unit for class, sizing and defects. For bulk fruit, a minimum sample weight per lot is taken. Pulp temperature is recorded on arrival at the loading point.

08Laboratory testing

Multi-residue pesticide screening including post-harvest fungicides such as imazalil and thiabendazole
Juice content
Soluble solids (Brix) and titratable acidity
Firmness by penetrometer

Testing is coordinated through laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 for the required method. See laboratory coordination.

09Food safety and quality risks

Pesticide residues: Turkish citrus has been subject to increased official checks in some periods
Post-harvest treatment declarations missing from labels
Mould in transit

10Packaging and labelling

Cartons of 10 to 18 kg and retail nets. In the EU, labels must indicate post-harvest treatments where applied.

11Storage and transportation

Stored and shipped at moderate temperatures to avoid chilling injury. We check reefer settings and ventilation.

12Pre-shipment inspection procedure

Confirm order specification, class, size bands, variety and packaging with the buyer
Check that the lot is fully packed, labelled and palletised before sampling
Draw random cartons across pallets and record pulp temperature
Assess minimum requirements, class defects, sizing and uniformity
Measure Brix, firmness or juice content where the specification requires it
Check packing, net weight, labelling and traceability codes
Supervise reefer pre-cooling, loading pattern and seal
Issue a photographic report the same day with a clear conformity statement

13Relevant international standards

Fresh produceUNECE standards for fresh fruit and vegetablesCommercial quality standards (FFV series) defining classes, minimum requirements, sizing and tolerances.Fresh produceCommission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429EU marketing standards for fresh fruit and vegetables, applying from 1 January 2025 and replacing the marketing standard provisions of Regulation (EU) No 543/2011..Fresh produceOECD Fruit and Vegetables SchemeOECD explanatory brochures and inspection guidance that interpret UNECE and EU standards with photographs, used by inspectors to apply defect tolerances consistently..EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 396/2005Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.EU food lawCommission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1793Temporary increase of official controls and emergency measures on certain food and feed from certain third countries.Plant healthRegulation (EU) 2016/2031The EU Plant Health Regulation.Certification schemesGLOBALG.A.P. Integrated Farm AssuranceFarm-level certification for good agricultural practice, frequently required by European retailers for fresh produce..

Regulations are amended regularly. Always check the version in force for your destination market.

14Conformity TR services for lemons

Crop and Orchard Status Monitoring

Field visits to orchards, vineyards, greenhouses and farms for buyers who have contracted a future crop and want to see its condition before harvest, with dated photographs, video and a written status report

Fresh Produce Inspection

Inspection of fresh fruit and vegetables at orchards, greenhouses, packhouses and cold stores, using UNECE and EU marketing standards and your own retail specifications

Pre-Shipment Inspection

Final random inspection of food, produce and feed before it leaves the supplier, when the goods are packed and ready to load

Loading Supervision

Supervision of truck, reefer container, bulk vessel and flexitank loading, so the goods that were inspected are the goods that are shipped

Laboratory Coordination

Sampling and coordination of laboratory testing through competent external laboratories: microbiology, pesticide residues, heavy metals, mycotoxins, nutrition, moisture, foreign matter, authenticity and packaging migration

Supplier Audits

Supplier qualification, food safety audits, quality management system audits, GMP audits and GAP assessments for buyers sourcing from Turkey

15Questions buyers ask

When is the season for lemons in Turkey?

Early lemons from September; main season October to May. Typical window: September to May. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.

Where are lemons produced in Turkey?

Mersin (especially Erdemli and Silifke) is the core area, with Adana, Hatay, Antalya and Muğla.

Which laboratory tests are typical for lemons?

Common tests include multi-residue pesticide screening including post-harvest fungicides such as imazalil and thiabendazole; juice content; soluble solids (Brix) and titratable acidity; firmness by penetrometer. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.

What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish lemons?

Pesticide residues: Turkish citrus has been subject to increased official checks in some periods. Post-harvest treatment declarations missing from labels. Mould in transit.

Can Conformity TR inspect lemons and supervise loading?

Yes. We inspect lemons at the supplier against your specification, coordinate laboratory testing where required and supervise loading, with a photographic report to you the same day.

Contact

Request inspection for lemons in Turkey

Send the product, supplier location and timing by email, phone or WhatsApp. We confirm scope, sampling method, laboratory plan and cost before any work starts.

Food-qualified inspector at the supplier
Report with photographs the same day
Independent of the supplier

Inspection request: Lemons

Email[email protected] Phone+90 533 283 05 79 WhatsAppMessage us OfficeBeştepe Mah. Nergiz Sok. Via Flat İş Merkezi 7/2 Kat:3 No: 87, 06560 Yenimahalle/Ankara

For a fast proposal, include the product and specification, supplier location, destination market and expected dates. We reply in English, usually within one business day.

Email your request Call +90 533 283 05 79