Tropical Transformation

İlay Ülker (23), a student in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Izmir University of Economics (IUE), turned into an entrepreneur thanks to the tropical fruits she began consuming to lose weight. Combining her engineering mindset with an entrepreneurial spirit, Ülker now manages a greenhouse in the Selçuk district of Izmir that grows tropical fruits such as pitaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, and avocado.

About 4 years ago, after graduating from high school, Ülker was introduced to ketogenic nutrition and the concept of longevity. During this time, she developed a keen interest in tropical fruits. Struggling with weight issues, she began consuming these fruits and managed to lose 30 kilos in 6 months.

“GROWN IN MODERN GREENHOUSES”

Initially a consumer, Ülker eventually became a tropical fruit consultant. Stating that she did not aim to lose weight at the beginning, Ülker said, “I went from 90 to 60 kilograms in 6 months. According to the philosophy of ‘longevity’, the body needs healthy fats, which should come from sources like olive oil, walnut oil, and avocado. When consuming fruit, one should prefer tropical fruits rich in antioxidants instead of sugary ones. With the pandemic in 2020, people became more aware of this. Rather than consuming sugar, they began choosing antioxidant-rich fruits. During this period, modern greenhouse farming advanced. In the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, the production of tropical fruits in modern greenhouses increased. Our greenhouse grows many tropical fruits like pitaya, dragon fruit, passion fruit, and avocado. I was just a consumer of these fruits, unaware of their diversity or the health benefits, especially how useful dragon fruit is for people with diabetes. After becoming more informed, I became a part of this greenhouse.”

“FROM IMPORTS TO EXPORTS IN JUST TWO YEARS”

Ülker pointed out that tropical fruits can only be grown in greenhouses in Turkey due to climate constraints and emphasized their health benefits. Ülker said, “Dragon fruit is a bit delicate and spiny. After investing, it can take several years before the plant bears fruit. It blooms only at night, which is why it’s referred to in some academic literature as a ‘moonflower’. Dragon fruit is known for its antioxidant properties and healing effects. It has also become increasingly popular for its taste. We now see it in markets and grocery stores. Just two years ago, all the dragon fruits being sold were imported. Today, thanks to the rise in tropical greenhouses in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions, they’re now ready for export. A single dragon fruit contains as much vitamin C as 6 oranges. Our greenhouse produces yellow, red, and purple varieties. We usually recommend fruits based on individual taste preferences, but for diabetic individuals, we suggest the yellow dragon fruit due to its lower sugar content.” Ülker also noted that passion fruit—commonly known as çarkıfelek in Turkish—is another tropical fruit growing in popularity.