Netherlands places massive 500-ton order for İnegöl's famous tomato paste

The Kulaca Agricultural Development Cooperative, operating in the İnegöl district of Bursa with a population of approximately 300 thousand, continues to make its mark in international markets by turning peppers and tomatoes grown by local farmers into paste. The cooperative, which has been in production since 1976, signed an agreement this year with a Netherlands-based company for the export of 500 tons of paste. The cooperative's annual production capacity is around 1500 tons.

Cooperative President Ahmet Uğur stated that production is entirely based on a contract farming model and that purchase guarantees are determined every year before the planting season. Noting that export volumes to the Netherlands have reached as high as 1400 tons in previous years, Uğur expressed that they are working at full capacity to meet this year's 500-ton order.

Noting that international sustainability principles are adhered to in paste production, Uğur said, "Our producers continue their work with the Rainforest Alliance's sustainable farmer certification." Starting from the seed, which is the first step of production, all processes up to packaging are monitored with modern digital systems. Thanks to special codes on the product packaging, it is possible to instantly identify which field and farmer the paste came from. This tracking system will also be implemented in tomato paste production.

Cooperative President Uğur emphasized that price stability and product planning are of great importance for ensuring sustainability in agriculture, and underlined that support mechanisms providing purchase guarantees must be strengthened so that farmers do not abandon agricultural activities.