The harvest of Amasya’s iconic "misket" apples, named after the Turkish word for "marble,” whose distinctive taste has remained unchanged for 2,000 years, has begun in the historic city in northern Türkiye.

Excavations have revealed that the registered variety was grown in Amasya even during antiquity. Today, harvest continues in orchards across the province.

Around 6,500 tons of geographical indication-registered Amasya misket apples are expected to be harvested this year. Total apple production across the province is estimated to reach 35,000 tons.

The misket apple is recognizable by its red color on one side and green on the other.

Apple mosaic discovered at ancient temple

Excitement grew in Amasya after a rescue excavation in 2013 uncovered a roughly 1,700-year-old Roman-era temple near the village of Yavru, in the province's central district. The excavation, carried out at a site where illegal digging had taken place, also revealed a 20-square-meter (215-square-foot) mosaic featuring an apple tree at its center.

The mosaic's central medallion depicts an apple tree with four apples, accompanied by three partridges below it. The mosaic, made from thousands of pieces of colored stone, was moved to the Amasya Museum, where it has been displayed for six years and is considered one of the museum's most prestigious artifacts.

The mosaic is also seen as evidence that the misket apple, with its distinctive red-and-green coloring, was prized for its taste as far back as antiquity.

Taste unchanged for 2,000 years

Hasan Çilez, an Amasya lawmaker from the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), said the apple depicted in the ancient mosaic is almost identical to the fruit grown in Amasya today.

"When we look at the apple in the mosaic made 2,000 years ago and the apple on the tree today, they are exactly the same. Perhaps this year, we are starting what could be the 2,000th harvest by saying ‘Bismillah,’” Çilez said.

Amasya Governor Önder Bakan also highlighted the importance of the geographically indicated misket apple as a symbol of the province.

"The apple is a very valuable product. Amasya is a city that lives with the apple in its logo and in every part of its identity,” Bakan said.

The apple harvest was held at a model orchard belonging to the Yapar family in Kurnaz village in the Suluova district. AK Party lawmaker Haluk Ipek, Amasya provincial director of Agriculture and Forestry Ahmet Arslan and other officials attended the harvest.