Drying Fig in Soil Causes Aflatoxin

It was stated that in order to prevent aflatoxin formation in figs, which are among the main export products of Aydın, attention should be paid to the drying process after the harvest.

Pointing out that the drying floor and drying time of figs are very important in terms of aflatoxin formation, Ufresh Agricultural Engineer Safiye Boz Koç said, “Footed crayfish should be preferred for drying. Earth floors must not be used. Crayfish should be covered with a material such as nylon to ensure air circulation in order to protect the fig from dew and rain and to prevent the fig butterfly from laying eggs in the evening. In addition, while figs are being dried in recent years, different drying methods have been used, including drying in a low tunnel with pedestal crayons and drying in a solar collector system. With these kinds of drying methods, it is possible to obtain a hygienic product that is free from harmfuls in a shorter time by making maximum use of solar energy, thus reducing the rate of aflatoxin ”.

Explaining that the moisture content of the ripe figs falling from the tree is around 30-50 percent, Ufresh Agricultural Engineer Safiye Boz Koç stated that the moisture content of the ready-to-eat dried figs is around 2022 percent. Agricultural Engineer Safiye Boz Koç stated that the bitter figs should be kept on the crayfish and under sunlight for 35 days depending on whether the weather is sunny, and said, “Figs that have not dried up enough should not be taken from the exhibition, preferably early in the morning after the dew leaves. If this period is extended, dried figs become extremely dry and hard. This is also an undesirable situation, "he said.

Figs on the exhibition should be sorted after sunset

Koç warned the producers to make the dried fig sorting processes in the evening when there is no sunlight and said: “The process of separating dried figs into quality classes by the producer should not be done at night. Because especially fig worm butterflies choose the way to reproduce by laying their eggs on dried figs at night. Scrap figs should be dried and stored separately in order to prevent any contamination. Employees at the exhibition and warehouse must comply with the cleaning conditions ”