Borujerd - Apple processing operations in Borujerd are playing a growing role in reducing agricultural waste and strengthening value-added horticultural exports from Iran’s western province of Lorestan, according to local agriculture officials.

 

The Narin Sweet and Sour Food Industries Company, based in Borujerd, began operations in 2010, producing a diverse range of products including pickles, fruit leather, fruit pastes, and sour fruit snacks. With an annual processing capacity of 3,800 tons and employment for more than 250 workers, the company has become one of Lorestan’s leading agro-processing units.

 

The Director of Food and Agro-Processing Industries at the Lorestan Organization of Agriculture emphasized the strategic importance of Borujerd apples in the province’s horticultural output, noting that a substantial share of lower-grade apples and post-harvest losses are absorbed and processed by downstream industries such as Narin.

 

During the harvest season, the company currently processes up to 100 tons per day of second- and third-grade apples into puree. As part of an ongoing expansion project - now more than 50 percent complete - daily processing capacity is set to rise to 300 tons, while employment is expected to increase to around 400 jobs.

 

With more than 15 years of experience, Narin produces over 35 types of processed horticultural products and exports more than 80 percent of its output to international markets, including the United States, Canada, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Russia, and Tajikistan. The company’s export activity makes a significant contribution to foreign exchange earnings and underscores the role of agro-processing in the sustainable development of the horticultural sector.