Yalova Aronia Description and Distinctive Features of the Product: Yalova Aronia is a berry resembling grapes, harvested from the Viking and Nero cultivars of the Aronia melanocarpa (Michaux) Elliot species, which is part of the Rosaceae family. At the beginning of its development, the fruit displays a pink color, which gradually changes to pink-purple and eventually to a deep purple-black. Because of its tannin content, the taste is initially bitter, tart, and astringent; however, when fully matured, the fruit turns sweet. The Yalova Aronia plant is self-pollinating and does not need other plants for pollination. It is a deciduous, bushy, woody, and perennial shrub that grows in a shrub-like form and can live for many decades while maintaining its vigor. The annual branches of Yalova Aronia develop buds that produce flower clusters on the current year’s shoots. The flowers are hermaphroditic, containing both male and female reproductive organs. Each flower consists of 5 sepals, 5 petals, and a single ovary. The flower clusters have a cymous structure, arranged in a compound false-umbrella shape formed by the grouping of multiple clusters. On average, a cluster contains 34 flowers in the Viking variety and 30 flowers in the Nero variety. Flowering progresses gradually, with blossoms opening sequentially from the center outward. Flowers on thinner branches bloom earlier than those on thicker branches. Flower clusters on one-year-old branches open from top to bottom, and the flowering period lasts approximately 20 days, depending on temperature. Flowering occurs in April and May and is not affected by late spring frosts. Fruit set begins in May, followed by fruit growth and color development during June and July. The fruit reaches full maturity in August. Color changes start early in fruit development, transitioning from pink to pink-purple, and finally to a deep purple-black. During full maturity, the fruits reach their maximum size and turn black, although ripening continues and the fruit can increase in size even after blackening. The Viking variety of Yalova Aronia grows between 2.2 and 2.5 meters tall, shows good cold tolerance, and produces 30 to 40 basal shoots, growing more upright. The Nero variety reaches heights of 1.8 to 2 meters, has a more spreading growth habit, and forms fewer basal shoots. Fruit production begins from the second year after planting, with yields ranging from 2 to 5 kg per plant. In the Yalova region, the plants reach full productivity by the seventh year, producing up to 14 kg per plant. In every kilogram of Yalova Aronia fruit, there are approximately 20 g of polyphenols and between 4 and 8.5 g of anthocyanins. Chemically, the fruit is rich in organic acids including chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, malic, tartaric, and citric acids. Its pH ranges from 3.3 to 3.8. The antioxidant level in the Nero variety measures 896.31 (Trolox µM/100g), while the Viking variety has 903 (Trolox µM/100g). The total phenolic content, expressed as "mg Gallic Acid/100g," is 99.56 for Nero and 96.38 for Viking. The climate of Yalova province features a transitional macroclimate between Mediterranean and Black Sea types. Warm, humid summers enhance the biochemical and pomological qualities of Yalova Aronia, while the mildly cold, rainy, and frost-free winters support root growth and nourish the trunks during the leafless dormancy period. The coldest months—December, January, and February—provide the 800-1000 chilling hours needed for the plants to reach generative flowering maturity. In Yalova, it is important that summer temperatures rarely exceed 30°C. Occasional frost during winter and spring is infrequent. The region experiences high average relative humidity between 50-70%, with most rainfall occurring after the leaves have fallen, allowing the plants to rest. The months of July and August are particularly critical, as this is when the fruits absorb nutrients from the soil and sunlight, reaching optimal nutritional levels for harvest. A relatively dry climate during August, when the fruits turn black, is vital to prevent issues such as wrinkling, moisture loss, size reduction, and visual defects, which can result from premature picking and negatively affect taste and aroma. The soil suitable for cultivating Yalova Aronia should be predominantly loamy (sometimes clay-loamy), with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 7.0 and 7.6. It should be low or free of lime, moderately moist, light in texture, well-drained, and free from salinity problems to ensure the fruit develops its characteristic qualities.