Hayrettin Kurtçu, a 75-year-old retired chief guard living in Karaoğlan Neighborhood,…

Hayrettin Kurtçu, a 75-year-old retired chief guard living in Karaoğlan Neighborhood, Mustafakemalpaşa district of Bursa, has been engaged in beekeeping for 50 years. For 20 years, he has been exporting the natural honey he produces to European countries. He started beekeeping as a hobby with 25 hives bought from Karacabey and increased the number to 160 over time.

While working at the prison, Kurtçu spent his evenings and days off at his apiary. Together with his wife, he produces heather, thyme, and mountain basil honey. He obtains between 800 kilograms and 1 ton of pure honey annually, which he exports to the UK and Austria.