Tomatoes are the highest-volume crop in Antalya’s fresh vegetable export. But “tomato export” doesn’t mean one product — it covers several varieties, each shaped by its own size grade and market expectation. A shipment can’t be planned without knowing which variety the buyer wants.
Variety depends on the buyer
Truss tomatoes are sold on the vine and read as fresher, which is why Northern European retail favours them. Cocktail tomatoes, small and high in sugar, go to the ready-meal and catering trade. Beef tomatoes, large and meaty, are sought after in the Middle East.
Growing conditions differ by variety: truss tomatoes are left on the plant longer, cocktail tomatoes are picked earlier. That difference sets the harvest calendar too.
What decides the size grade
Size grade sorts tomatoes by diameter, usually expressed in millimetre bands. Retail chains want a specific range because their shelf layout and packaging are built around it. Wholesale markets allow a wider range.
Sorting happens in the packing house with optical graders that separate the crop automatically by diameter and colour — faster and more consistent than sorting by hand.
Colour and ripeness stage
Export tomatoes aren’t always fully red at harvest. On a long shipment they are picked “pink” or “turning” and ripen to red on the way, which cuts bruising and extends shelf life. On short routes, fully red fruit is picked, since there’s no travel time left for it to ripen further.
Packaging choices
Truss tomatoes are laid in a single layer to protect the vine, usually in 5 kg cartons. Cocktail tomatoes go out in small plastic punnets of 250-500 g for the consumer shelf. Beef tomatoes are packed deeper, stacked two to three layers.
Sensitivity to temperature
Tomatoes are prone to chilling injury; held below 10 °C for long, the skin pits and the flavour fades. That’s why the cold chain for tomatoes runs warmer than for most vegetables, typically 10-13 °C.
Tomato export at Hatipoğlu Tarım
Our Serik and Kepez facilities prepare truss, cocktail and beef tomatoes to the size grade and ripeness stage the buyer needs. Browse our range, or get in touch about the variety and grade your market needs.
