Zeytun, Olive Oil and Gastronomy Festival Opens in Türkiye with Great Enthusiasm
The Zeytun, Olive Oil and Gastronomy Festival was held in Altınözü district of Hatay province, Türkiye. The traditional festival, now held for the tenth time, marked the start of the olive harvest season and the opening of a new project that will contribute to the district's social infrastructure.
Mehmet Huseyin Zorkun3 min read
The Zeytun, Olive Oil and Gastronomy Festival was held in Altınözü district of Hatay province, Türkiye. The traditional festival, now held for the tenth time, marked the start of the olive harvest season, and the opening of a new project that will contribute to the district's social infrastructure also made it memorable.
F4Media.az's special correspondent in Türkiye, Hüseyn Zorkun, reported on the event.
The event was organised jointly by the Hatay Metropolitan Municipality, the Altınözü District Governorate and the Altınözü Municipality, and was hosted by Altınözü Mayor Rıfat Sarı. Attending the opening ceremony were AK Party Deputy Chairman and Hatay MP Hüseyn Yayman, Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı, Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Öntürk, district mayors, members of parliament, representatives of political parties and civil society organisations, and many local residents.
On the first day of the festival, the new City Square, distinguished by modern infrastructure and a spacious parking area, was opened to the public. After the square opened, a programme featuring an orchestra performance and performances by folk dance groups took place.
Afterwards, participants went to an olive grove, planted olive trees and harvested the first olive crop as a symbol of the new season. The event also included a presentation and tasting of olive oil and local products.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hatay Governor Mustafa Masatlı said that the olive tree is a symbol of the region's history, cultural heritage and the ties of brotherhood among people.
“The tree that best represents Hatay is, in fact, the olive tree. Beyond being a legacy of our civilisation, the olive tree expresses the peace, brotherhood and history of our people,” the governor stressed.
AK Party Deputy Chairman and Hatay MP Hüseyn Yayman drew attention to the importance of unity and solidarity in the region. Voicing the view that “When it comes to Hatay, everything else is secondary,” he stressed the importance of solidarity.
Hatay Metropolitan Mayor Mehmet Öntürk spoke about the festival's importance in bringing people together and wished the event success.
The festival's host, Altınözü Mayor Rıfat Sarı, said that the event had grown from limited resources over the past ten years and that he was pleased it had reached this level. He thanked Mehmet Öntürk for his support and described him as “a chairman who creates something out of nothing.”
The event concluded with a recitation from the Holy Quran and the presentation of gifts. The festival is significant for promoting the region's olive-growing traditions, as well as for raising recognition of local products and gastronomic culture.
