Meet the producer: tomato importers, Narinport

What made you start your own import and export company?

I worked in the hospitality industry for 10 years in the food and beverage division. Four years ago when my daughter was born, I started focusing more on healthy food and its nutritional value. I realised that I could not find certain types of high-quality fruits and vegetables here consistently. That’s when I decided to quit my job and began my own company importing fresh tomatoes grown by my relatives in Turkey.

Tell us about the tomato farm.

Agrocan’s greenhouses are Turkey’s first sustainable greenhouse facilities that employ artificial light to recreate the sun’s blue and red wavelengths to promote photosynthesis in tomato plants. The greenhouses are located over hot springs so the plants are irrigated with mineral-rich water. The water is also used to heat the greenhouses thereby making the whole operation more sustainable. We use bumblebees for pollination, which replace vibration and hormone methods. They have an essential role in cultivating healthy and hormone-free tomatoes. The anthers of tomato flowers only release pollen when vibrated. Bumblebees are able to achieve this through ‘buzz pollination’. This means the bumblebee places its upper body (thorax) close to the anthers and vibrates its flight muscles at a frequency of about 400Hz. This literally shakes the pollen from the anther, for 100% pollination.

Are the plants grown in soil or in another kind of medium?

Agrocan’s primary goal is to grow pesticide-free plants without any chemical residue. The best way to achieve that is by growing tomatoes in coconut coir, also known as coco peat.

Is it true that music is played to the tomatoes in the greenhouses?

Yes. It has been proven that certain frequencies and sound waves have a therapeutic effect on living things. Agrocan has incorporated this into its production process and we have noticed its beneficial effects on the colour and quality of the fruit.

How many varieties of tomatoes do you currently supply to Spinneys?

At present we supply cherry tomatoes, bunch tomatoes, and heritage tomatoes, also known as legendary tomatoes, or pink tomatoes. We plan to add black tomatoes soon. The pink tomatoes are an heirloom variety from Anatolia. These are brought in while they’re still a little orange, because some people like them crunchy in salads. If they’re left out on a kitchen counter for a week, they become softer and more flavourful.

What are some of the challenges of dealing with fresh produce such as tomatoes?

The main challenge is maintaining a consistent temperature throughout – from the time the produce leaves the greenhouse till the shipment reaches our facility in Dubai. Even a 5°C variation could destroy the tomatoes. We import them only once they’ve ripened. That means we don’t harvest the fruit when the flesh is green, which is a common practice. We also fly them in to reduce transit time. Each batch has a device that records temperature so if there is even a slight variation we will know. Over time we’ve realised that our tomatoes travel well at temperatures ranging between 8-10°C.

What measures have been taken to reduce waste?

The plants are recycled at the Agrocan facility. The stems of tomato plants can grow to a height of 14m from just 20cm over a period of 11 months. Since these are herbaceous plants, they have non-woody stems that die at the end of the growing season. However, the stems are rich in minerals. We turn them into compost and use that as raw material to feed earthworms, which in turn create worm manure.

Our packaging is made from natural materials. We only use cardboard derived from cellulose. At the Narinport warehouses, we ensure that our stock holding does not exceed demand. We also have certain controls in place to minimise wastage and uphold quality from the time of shipment till the produce reaches our clients.