Fresh Vegetables | Inspection guide

Onion and Garlic Inspection in Turkey

Turkey is a large producer of dry onions and garlic. Onion exports vary with domestic prices, and Turkey has applied temporary export restrictions in some seasons, so buyers should confirm the current position before contracting.

Request an inspection Quality parameters

Season: June to March
Main regions: Black Sea, Central Anatolia, Marmara
Category: Fresh Vegetables
Key tests: Pesticide residues; Multi-residue pesticide screening

01Product overview

Yellow, red and white dry onions
Garlic including the Taşköprü type from Kastamonu, a registered geographical indication
Curing, skin quality and neck closure determine storability

02Turkish production regions

Onions: Amasya, Çorum, Ankara (Polatlı), Eskişehir, Bursa, Tokat. Garlic: Kastamonu, Balıkesir, Gaziantep.

03Harvest and production season

Harvest from June to September; stored onions shipped through winter.

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

04Export characteristics

Shipped in mesh sacks by truck and container.

05Typical quality parameters

Quality parameters for Onions and Garlic
Parameter	What is checked
Calibre	Diameter in mm
Skin	Dry, adherent outer skins
Neck	Closed and dry
Defects	Sprouting, rooting, black mould, soft rot, doubles, mechanical damage

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

Aspergillus niger black mould under skins
Sprouting and rooting
Soft necks and neck rot

07Sampling methods

Packages are drawn at random from each lot according to the contract or the OECD conformity check method, opened and examined for class, colour stage, sizing and defects. For bulk products such as onions or potatoes, sacks are sampled across the lot and a minimum sample weight is examined.

08Laboratory testing

Pesticide residues
Multi-residue pesticide screening (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS)
Nitrate content for leafy vegetables where relevant
Brix for cherry and specialty tomatoes

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

09Food safety and quality risks

Storage rots
Sprouting
Export policy changes

10Packaging and labelling

Mesh sacks of 10 to 25 kg and retail nets.

11Storage and transportation

Dry, ventilated storage; cold storage near 0°C for long holding.

12Pre-shipment inspection procedure

Confirm specification, class, colour stage, size and packaging
Verify the lot is packed and labelled, with grower or packhouse traceability codes
Draw random packages and record pulp temperature
Assess defects, colour stage, uniformity and sizing
Check net weight and packaging integrity
Take samples for residue testing where required
Supervise reefer settings, loading and sealing
Issue a same-day photographic report

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..EU food lawRegulation (EC) No 396/2005Maximum residue levels (MRLs) of pesticides in or on food and feed of plant and animal origin.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..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 onions and garlic

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 onions and garlic in Turkey?

Harvest from June to September; stored onions shipped through winter. Typical window: June to March. Exact timing varies with region, altitude and weather each year.

Where are onions and garlic produced in Turkey?

Onions: Amasya, Çorum, Ankara (Polatlı), Eskişehir, Bursa, Tokat. Garlic: Kastamonu, Balıkesir, Gaziantep.

Which laboratory tests are typical for onions and garlic?

Common tests include pesticide residues; multi-residue pesticide screening (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS/MS); nitrate content for leafy vegetables where relevant; brix for cherry and specialty tomatoes. The right test plan depends on your specification and destination market.

What are the main quality and safety risks for Turkish onions and garlic?

Storage rots. Sprouting. Export policy changes.

Can Conformity TR inspect onions and garlic and supervise loading?

Yes. We inspect onions and garlic 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 onions and garlic 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: Onions and Garlic

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