“一个青果也不放过”，韧劲儿！小番茄“72变”闯出海外大市场 | 砥砺奋进七十载 天山南北谱华章

Core Insights - Xinjiang is one of the world's three major processing tomato core areas, with its tomato sauce export accounting for 70% of the national total [1] - The region has increased technological investment to meet changing market demands, enhancing product quality and market competitiveness [1] Group 1: Harvesting and Processing - September marks the peak harvesting season for tomatoes, with nearly 80,000 acres of tomato fields in Yarkand County, Xinjiang, showcasing a bountiful harvest [3] - Advanced harvesting machines and color selection devices are utilized to efficiently sort ripe tomatoes from unripe ones during the harvesting process [6][8] - The introduction of new equipment has allowed farmers to expand their operations significantly, with one farmer managing 500 acres, compared to the previous 20-30 acres [12] Group 2: Product Quality and Innovation - The processing of tomatoes involves multiple stages of sorting to ensure only ripe tomatoes are used for producing sauces and juices [14] - Research has identified that unripe tomatoes contain higher antioxidant properties, making them valuable for skincare and health products [16] - Over 70 years of innovation has transformed Xinjiang's tomato industry from manual farming to a modern agricultural industry chain encompassing breeding, management, and processing [19] Group 3: Industry Growth and Market Reach - In 2024, the area dedicated to processing tomatoes in Xinjiang exceeded 1.2 million acres, with the entire processing chain fully mechanized [23] - More than 200 processing companies produce a variety of tomato-based products, with markets extending to over 70 countries and regions, including Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe and America [23]