International Istanbul Economic Research Conference, İstanbul, Türkiye, 18 - 20 Kasım 2021, ss.80
The COVID-19, which entered human lives unexpectedly and spread quickly, has resulted in
numerous deaths, as well as has had a profound socio-economic impact on the entire world.
The pandemic not only has had a significant negative impact on the economies of the countries
but also resulted in several social and economic transformation for producers and consumers
in various sectors. Changes in food supply and food prices became increasingly noticeable
throughout the pandemic period. Especially, during the periods of full lockdown, breakdowns were
identified because of the interruption of economic activities. With shrinking labor markets and
disruptions in raw material supply as a result of the pandemic›s influence on trade, the food sector,
which provides one of the most fundamental human necessities, has been severely impacted by
COVID-19. The current study examined the changes in food prices, food trade, and the labor force
in Turkey throughout the pandemic period using Turkish Statistical Institute data and compared
the findings to the pre-COVID-19 period. Moreover, the trend of data was evaluated, as were the
existence of any breaks or changes that may have occurred in data during the full lockdown
periods. The conclusions are intended to provide a general framework for the current situation of
COVID-19 in Turkey with regards to food prices and food trade and to offer policy recommendations
for future periods. The conclusions of the study are expected to serve as a guide for policymakers
and sector stakeholders.