STAR-K Certification has long enjoyed a successful and harmonious relationship with Turkey for over 25 years, providing Kosher certification for scores of Turkish companies. The STAR-K symbol appears on everything from Turkish-produced beans to candy, condiments, fruits, vegetables, juices, jams, honey, oils, nuts, pasta, pickled products, rice, sauces, teas, and vinegars.

STAR-K Kashrus Administrator, Rabbi Tzvi Rosen, was invited to Izmir in mid-May, by the Turkish Prime Ministry’s Undersecretariat for Treasury and Foreign Trade, to address members of the Aegean Exporters’ Association. Together, with STAR-K’s Middle East/Europe Kashrus Coordinator, Rabbi Dovid Stein, he delivered a seminar, “Kosher Certification: Your Worldwide Partner for Successful Marketing”. In attendance was Izmir’s newest rabbi, Rabbi Mordechai Katan, and approximately thirty Turkish manufacturing companies.

Utilizing a colorful STAR-K powerpoint presentation entitled, “Understanding the World of Kosher…Naturally”, the rabbis explained Kosher basics, Kosher marketplace opportunities, issues regarding the certification of various Kosher specialty products, the parallel growth of organic and Kosher, requirements and considerations when producing kosher/natural organic products, the Kosher Certification process, and the advantages of the STAR-K/QAI twin Kosher/organic certification program.

“Turkish companies have a keen interest to expand their markets and they feel that a necessary tool to assist them in that is Kosher certification,” says Rabbi Rosen. “I feel that our seminar has built a bridge and a healthy rapport between the exporters union and STAR-K.” Cagdas Gunes, a rapporteur at the Aegean Exporters’ Association, only confirmed Rabbi Rosen’s feelings when he added, “Our doors are always open for you.”