Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs 2023/C 51/07
Date: 2023-02-10
Institutions: Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Subjects: Türkiye, consumer information, designation of origin, labelling, pip fruit, product designation, quality control of agricultural products








C_2023051EN.01001901.xml










10.2.2023   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


C 51/19






Publication of an application for registration of a name pursuant to Article 50(2)(a) of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council on quality schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs
(2023/C 51/07)
This publication confers the right to oppose the application pursuant to Article 51 of Regulation (EU) No 1151/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council (1) within three months from the date of this publication.
SINGLE DOCUMENT

’Suruç Narı'


EC No: PDO-TR-02850-7.6.2022


PGI ( ) PDO (X)

1.   Name(s) [of PDO or PGI]

‘Suruç Narı’
2.   Member State or Third Country

Türkiye
3.   Description of agricultural product or foodstuff

3.1.   Type of product (listed in Annex XI)

Class 1.6. Fruit, vegetables and cereals fresh or processed
3.2.   Description of the product to which name in (1) applies

’Suruç Narı' is a large to medium sized fruit with red and pink hues on a yellow main background as fruit peel. 'Suruç Narı' is not completely round in shape, slightly flattened on the stem and crown axis, and the fruit diameter/length ratio is over 1. 'Suruç Narı'; It consists of 4 main parts, namely grains, peel, pomegranate membrane (mesocarp) and pomegranate seed. 'Suruç Narı' is pink-light red, soft grained, with a medium thin and elastic shell structure, consisting of red-pink hues on a yellow background. Its grains are large and easy to granulate. Its grains constitute approximately 60 % of the fruit. It is generally consumed as table pomegranate because of its tart-sweet taste.
Some features of 'Suruç Narı' are as follows.






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Peel ratio; between 39,4 % and 40,3 %,










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Juice ratio; min. 45 %,










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Juice density; between 1 072 and 1 075 g/cm3,










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Water-soluble solids ratio; min. 15 %,










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Titratable acidity (in citric acid equivalents); less than 1 % for sweet ones, 1-2 % for sour ones.)










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Total sugar content; min. 12,8 %,










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Ash content; between 0,52-0,55 %,










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pH value; between 2,9 and 3,3










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Anthocyanin content; maximum 110 mg of Cy.3 Gl/L fruit juice,










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Total phenolic content; min. 1 300 mg gallic acid/mL juice,










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Most present organic acids; citric acid (average 10,4±0,68 g/L), ascorbic acid (average 6,1±2,83 g/L) and malic acid (average 0,26±0,16 g/L),










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The most present phenolic compounds; quercetin (52,9±6,6 mg/L), caffeic acid (46,2±9,5 mg/L), and catechin (11,3±3,8 mg/L).










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Fruit weight is in the range of 250-650 grams.




3.3.   Feed (for products of animal origin only) and raw materials (for processed products only)

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3.4.   Specific steps in production that must take place in the identified geographical area

All stages of the cultivation of the 'Suruç Narı' must take place within the determined geographical limit. These stages are mainly planting, pruning, irrigation, fertilization, harvesting and agricultural controls.
3.5.   Specific rules concerning slicing, grating, packaging, etc. of the product the registered name refers to

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3.6.   Specific rules concerning labelling of the product the registered name refers to

In addition to the compulsory information provided for by legislation on the labelling and presentation of foodstuffs, labels must include the followings:






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The name of the designation 'Suruç Narı ',










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Trade name and address or short name and address or registered mark of the producer,










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European Union PDO logo




4.   A concise definition of the geographical area

’Suruç Narı' is grown within the borders of Şanlıurfa province. Birecik, Suruç, Harran and Ceylanpınar plains were formed due to tectonic collapses in the southern part of the province. There is the Syrian border in the south and Atatürk Dam Lake in the north of the province. Karacadağ, Siverek and Viranşehir plateaus are in the east of the province and Cırcıp Stream flows in the east of the province, and Fırat (Euphrates) river flows in the west.
5.   Link with the geographical area


Specificity of the geographical area

Şanlıurfa has the lowest altitude in Turkey. It has a surface structure that slopes from north to south. The altitude is below 500 m in the south, it can be up to 750 m in the north.
The continental climate feature predominates in the region. Summers are very droughty and hot; winters are rainy and relatively mild. The daily and annual temperature differences in the area are severe. According to meteorological data, the average monthly temperature does not fall to 0 °C in any month of the year. The average temperature in January, which is the coldest month, is 5,2 °C. The temperature begins to increase in February on monthly basis and exceeds 20 °C as of May. From June to August, the temperature often rises above 40 °C during the day. From March to the end of September, the average number of days with an average temperature between +20 °C and +25 °C is 177. The number of days with an average daily temperature of +25 °C and above is approximately 120.
In Şanlıurfa, precipitation increases in winter and decreases in summer. Annual precipitation amounts vary inversely with the temperature, increasing towards the north and decreasing towards the south. Precipitation in Şanlıurfa generally falls in the form of rain. Snowfalls are very rare, and the duration of snow on the ground does not exceed 1-2 days. As for humidity, it shows high values in the irrigated areas of Şanlıurfa, in the south and in Halfeti county, it is at low values in the city center and Suruç county.
When the water balance of Şanlıurfa is examined, the precipitation starts to accumulate in the soil starting from November. In January, the soil becomes saturated with water. The water surplus continues until April. As of May, the situation changes, and evaporation of water starts to be more than precipitation. The lack of precipitation in May and June is overcome by the water accumulated in the soil. Towards the end of May, the accumulated water begins to run out. As of June, there is no longer any accumulated water in the soil. This situation continues until November. Hydrogeological studies have shown the existence of two underground aquifers in Suruç. The first aquifer layer is important for the maintenance of soil humidity ad is approximately 50-80 m thick from the surface. This is the layer where excess surface water accumulates in winter and spring and is used when conditions dry up.
In addition, the winds blowing from the Syrian Desert leave plenty of minerals in the agricultural fields in Şanlıurfa with the dust they bring.

Human Factors

Şanlıurfa is part of a fertile crescent historically known as Mesopotamia, where agriculture is extensively engaged. It is believed that the Suruç Narı was brought to the region from the Babylonian gardens. Şanlıurfa is one of the genetic resources of pomegranate in Turkey. For this reason, pomegranate cultivation has been carried out in the region for centuries. For centuries, the farmers has been following a traditional way of growing ‘Suruc Narı’. Irrigation starts when half of the trees bloom. July and August are critical months for irrigation which should not be neglected for the sake of fruit development. Irrigation time is decided by looking at the trees’s color. 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. Harvesting is a delicate procedure. The fruit is harvested with its branch which attaches it to the tree. ‘Suruc Narı’ can be stored in shade at ambient temperature for at least two months.

Specificity of the product

’Suruç Narı' became famous in the region, especially with the name of Suruç county, and started to be known. 'Suruç Narı' is an agricultural product that differs from other pomegranates grown in Turkey with its thin and elastic skin, yellowish skin color, easy granulated hues, sweet-sour taste, and aroma. Compared to other varieties, high juice content together with high phenolic compounds and water-soluble dry matter gives ‘Suruç Narı’ its uniqueness. In particular high citric acid content which is about 10x higher than most of the varieties in Turkey, and high titratable acidity (%) contributes to its unique sweet and sour taste.

Casual Factors

The pomological and organoleptic properties are shaped by climate (the high temperature, high number of sunny days, relatively low relative humidity), and the water content of the soil. Suruç being a genetic source of this pomegranate indicates its production over centuries in the region. 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 wiht continuous water supply and relatively low relative humidity give Suruç Narı its unique taste, color, and skin texture. Traditional experience to decide irrigation time and washing trees before harvesting contributes these properties.

Reference to publication of the specification

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(1)  OJ L 343, 14.12.2012, p. 1.