| asotomatoes
are harvested in Western part of Turkey like Izmir, Manisa, Aydin,
and dried under Mediterranean Sun according to hygienic rules.
Our sun dried tomatoes are salted or sulphured.
Available shapes are halves, diced, stripes or powder.
Packing sizes are generally in 10kg cartons. Vacuum
Packages are available upon request.
Our tomatoes are hand picked at the peak of their
maturity. Only the ideal tomatoes are picked off their vine during
the first pass. After passing inspection they go directly to the
plant for processing to avoid losing any of their flavor or color.
The tomatoes are gently washed in water to remove
the soil and dust off the surface of the tomatoes, followed by a
fresh water rinse. The tomatoes then get sized inline. Sorters with
keen eyes and fast hands remove any tomatoes that are unacceptable
off specially designed belts that position the tomatoes. High speed
blades, cut each tomato in half. Then the tomato halves are cured
with sulfur dioxide prior to drying. This fixes the bright color
of the tomato, inhibits microbiogical growth, and contributes to
the unique flavor of the product.
After curing, the tomatoes are moved to the drying
yard and are laid out, cut-side up, to allow full exposure to the
sun. The sulfur dioxide evaporates slowly from the tomatoes, and
as it evaporates it creates a natural barrier to rodents, birds
and insects. Over a period of five to six days the rays of the sun
dry the tomatoes.
When the tomatoes
have been sun dried to their optimum moisture, the tomatoes are
taken to the plant where the tomatoes are sorted again for any undesirables.
After the initial sorting the tomatoes are placed in bins for storage.
Until the sun dried tomatoes are processed and packaged for shipment
they are kept in cold storage to maintain their color and flavor.
Throughout the year, when orders are received, the tomatoes are
subjected to a final inspection by skilled sorters who have been
trained to remove unacceptable halves and foreign matter. The Sun
Dried Tomatoes may also be treated with salt rather than sulphur
dioxide, and also be sliced, diced or chopped before packaging.
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