## 4 Conclusions  
The macronutrient composition of TPW obtained from indigenous Croatian tomato varieties is characterized by a high proportion of dietary fiber (up to 52%) and available carbohydrates (up to 29%), which are the most abundant in the TPW-PEEL. Proteins (18%) and lipids (7.8%) are predominantly found in TPW-SEED, while minerals account for 4.8% of the composition. lyophilization, as opposed to air drying at 70 \({}^{\circ}\)C, positively influences certain nutrient preservation. TPW is relatively rich in minerals, particularly iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), and potassium (K), with distinct mineral distributions between the seed and peel fractions. Bioactive compounds are more abundant in the peel compared to the seed fraction, especially carotenoids. Lycopene is the carotenoid present in the highest concentration, while rutin, kaempfer-3-rutinoside, catechin, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were identified as the major phenolic compounds. Their content is significantly affected by drying conditions and grinding intensity. Vacuum drying is optimal for preserving carotenoids and total phenols, whereas lyophilization yields the highest TEAC and better preserves specific phenolic compounds. The optimal median particle diameter for achieving optimal yields of bioactive compounds is 388 \(\upmu\)m. Sample color is also influenced by drying and grinding degree-vacuum-dried samples exhibit the most intense red and vivid yellow hues, with color brilliance further enhanced by finer milling. Overall, the analyzed TPW is a safe, nutrient-rich resource with substantial potential for valorization in food, feed, and nutraceuticalul industries. The choice of drying and milling protocols significantly affects bioactive compound yield and TPW organoleptic characteristics; therefore, tailored pre-processing can enhance sustainable TPW utilization in line with circular economy principles. This research shows that TPW obtained from the mixture of indigenous Croatian tomato varieties represents a valuable resource owing to its high content of lycopene and \(\beta\)-carotene, strong antioxidant activity, and distinctive reddish color. These attributes make it well-suited for use as a natural colorant and antioxidant in the food, cosmetic, and nutraceuticalul industries. Tomato seeds, notable for their rich mineral and protein content, offer potential for food fortification, animal feed, or as a source for tomato seed oil. The oil, distinguished by its favorable fatty acid composition and high nutritional quality, can be applied across food, cosmetic, and industrial sectors. Despite these advantages, large-scale utilization of TPW in Croatia is hindered by several challenges such as variability in TPW chemical composition and the economic limitations associated primarily with availability of the sufficient amounts of TPW. The following supporting information can be downloaded at [[https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15158447/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15158447/s1)]([https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15158447/s1](https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/app15158447/s1)), Figure S1: Correlation matrix of TPW color parameters with BI and carotenoid content; Table S1: Pesticide residues in TPW and comparison to MRLs; Table S2: Fatty acid composition of TPW-SEED oil and comparison to the available literature data. Conceptualization, D.V.C. ; methodology, E.G., M.B.S., J.J., and I.R.S. ; formal analysis, T.P., E.G., K.R., N.G., T.M., K.G., and I.R.S. ; investigation, D.V.C., K.R., J.J., T.V., and T.M. ; resources, D.V.C. ; data curation, J.J., T.M., E.G., M.B.S., and I.R.S. ; writing--original draft preparation, D.V.C., T.P., K.R., N.G., and E.G. ; writing--review and editing, D.V.C. ; visualization, N.G. and T.P. ; supervision, D.V.C. ; project administration, D.V.C. ; funding acquisition, D.V.C. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.