Harvesting tomatoes with horses and mules

In Kahramanmaraş, 'Bulanık tomatoes,' grown from heirloom seeds passed down from ancestors, are harvested from steep terrains and then transported with horses and mules.

Farmers in the Bulanık neighborhood of Dulkadiroğlu district cultivate these century-old seeds and market their produce under the name 'Bulanık Tomatoes,' named after their neighborhood. Noted for their flavor, aroma, and some weighing around 1 kilogram, Bulanık tomatoes attract significant interest from consumers. They sell quickly at markets and shops, with a price of 30 lira per kilogram in the fields. The region expects a tomato harvest of approximately 10,000 tons for the 2024 season. The tomatoes, grown at an altitude of 1,800 meters using spring water and animal manure without agricultural chemicals, are loaded onto horses and mules from the steep terrain and transported to nearby towns and Kahramanmaraş’s market.

Tomato producer Ali Bozlakoğlu said, "Bulanık tomatoes are famous in Kahramanmaraş. The local economy relies on tomato cultivation. We transport the products we harvest with horses and our own resources."

Nurullah Ayyıldız added, "The seeds come from our ancestors. Thanks to the climate and water of our village, our tomatoes turn out very well. We send our products to local markets and the wholesale market."