Refahiye women prepare traditional winter food supplies

In the Refahiye district of Erzincan, local women are preparing various food supplies for the winter season. Using organic tomatoes grown in their own gardens or purchased from markets, they are producing tomato paste, menemen preserves, tarhana, noodles, and rosehip marmalade.

Traditional methods are being employed, such as boiling chopped tomatoes in copper cauldrons over wood fires for approximately two hours. Once processed, the products are stored in glass jars to ensure preservation. The preparation process is characterized by strong community solidarity and the 'imece' system, where neighbors work together to complete the labor-intensive tasks from early morning until late at night.