Torbalı's dried tomato workers are not left alone

The Izmir Metropolitan Municipality is actively supporting the agricultural workers who are crucial to the production of Torbalı's geographically indicated dried tomatoes. This initiative aims to ensure that the producers and seasonal workers are not left unsupported during the demanding summer harvest season.

Teams from the Directorate of Agricultural Services visited tomato fields in Torbalı's Pamukyazı neighborhood to observe the harvest. They then moved to the drying areas, engaging directly with producers. The discussions focused on strategies to increase the added value of the product, reduce input costs for farmers, and ensure that Torbalı's dried tomatoes receive the recognition and value they deserve.

Recognizing the vital role of seasonal agricultural workers, many of whom come from different regions of Turkey, the municipality also provided support for them. "Moral support for dried tomato workers sweating under the heat" was a key focus, with the municipality sending a refreshment vehicle and conducting one-on-one meetings. These interactions aimed to understand the workers' living and working conditions, as well as their requests and expectations.

The production process itself is labor-intensive. After harvesting, tomatoes are sliced, salted, and naturally dried in the sun for about seven days, depending on weather conditions. This process yields approximately 1 kilogram of dried tomatoes from 13 kilograms of fresh produce. Despite the intense human labor and challenging summer heat, the quality of the product is maintained, with these dried tomatoes being exported to over 90 countries, including the United States and Italy. Torbalı's expertise in dried tomato production was recognized with a geographical indication in 2022. In 2025, Torbalı accounted for 40.3% of İzmir's industrial tomato production, totaling 370,887 tons.