Economy

Aydın is Turkey's leading producer of figs and exports dried figs worldwide. The very name by which the fruit was called in the world markets was "Smyrna figs" till recently, due to the preponderance of figs exported from İzmir over other species of the genus. But İzmir got the name by being the center for the wholesale tradw and exports, while in fact the fruit was traditionally cultivated in Aydın. The term used within Turkey is "Aydın figs" (Aydın inciri). Turkey's yearly production of roughly 50,000 tons of dried figs, is almost all from Aydın,[1] Within Aydın province, the best figs are reputed to be grown in Germencik. Aydın also has an important place in other agricultural products,including olives and chestnuts, cotton, citrus fruits, water melons and other fruits.

Aydın has some light industry, while major projects of the 1990s such as the Izmir to Aydın motorway and Adnan Menderes University, based in the city of Aydın and with branches throughout the province, are boosting the economy of Aydın in different ways. The road comes from Izmir through Aydın and south to Muğla, carrying large numbers of holidaymakers in summer. The cuisine features the typical Turkish pastries, köfte and kebab.