Niğde sun-dried tomatoes head to international markets

In the Bor district of Niğde, specifically in Kaynarca village, tomatoes are being naturally sun-dried using intense sunlight and the poyraz wind to prepare them for international markets. The drying process takes approximately 8 to 9 days, during which 13 kilograms of fresh tomatoes are reduced to 1 kilogram of dried product.

Local officials expect a production volume between 5,000 and 10,000 tons this year. The dried tomatoes are exported to several countries, including Italy, the United States, France, and Russia.

The production cycle relies heavily on seasonal workers, including laborers from the Siverek district of Şanlıurfa, who work for about 40 days to slice, salt, spread, and collect the tomatoes for factory processing.