Karacadağ's Sun-Dried Tomatoes Reach Global Markets
· NTV Ekonomi
Tomatoes dried under temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in Diyarbakır's Karacadağ region are being exported to US and European tables after processing in Turkish facilities.
Challenging Harvest and Drying in Karacadağ
Seedlings planted in Diyarbakır's Karacadağ region in April have begun to be harvested after intensive care, irrigation, and cultivation processes. In the region where thermometers exceed 40 degrees Celsius, tons of harvested tomatoes are split in half by workers, laid out on white cloths, and salted. During the work, which lasts from early morning until sunset, care is taken to prevent the tomatoes from darkening and to achieve the right consistency.
Agricultural worker Vedat Kayaş, who has been in this sector for about 10 years, drew attention to the difficulty of the conditions and made the following assessment:
"We come from Siverek. We salt the tomatoes to prevent them from turning black and to achieve the right consistency. After salting, they dry in a week. After harvesting, we load and send them. The temperature is quite high, we struggle. We have to do it. This job needs to be done in the heat. If it's not hot, they won't dry."
High Export Value of Sun-Ripened Produce
The 4-month production process in the region transforms into a value-added agricultural product thanks to the high temperatures. Businessman Mustafa Çubuk stated that the work in the fields requires great effort and emphasized that the air temperature reaches 45-48 degrees Celsius in places.
Producer Mustafa Çubuk, stating that the cultivated products are offered to the world market, described the product's usage areas with the following words:
"We salt and dry the tomatoes, and they are processed and exported to many countries. Those delicious pizzas we eat are made with this tomato sauce."
Producer Mustafa Çubuk continued his statements, explaining the difficulty of the field conditions and the situation of the families:
"Growing this, harvesting these tomatoes is not that easy. There's the cultivation, the fertilizer. These families come, and they have to bring their children too. They can't go back and forth in the morning. They stay here. But in the end, we are happy, we are letting the world taste this flavor."
Supply Chain Reaching World Markets
Tomatoes dried in Karacadağ are processed in integrated facilities in Turkey's western provinces and then shipped to global markets, primarily to the USA and European countries.
Agricultural worker Mehmet Salih Temel, explaining the production stages and export route, made the following remarks:
"We slice and salt them. After they dry, we collect and send them. They are processed in Western countries and sent to European countries like Italy, America, and the Netherlands. It's a product known for its very popular sauce. The Diyarbakır heat is 45-48 degrees Celsius, it tires a person quite a bit. But it's the remedy for the tomato. We dry them in 4-5 days and send them perfectly clean without any moisture."