Gonabad — Gonabad, a historic city in Khorasan Razavi province in eastern Iran, has emerged as Iran’s leading sumac-producing region, accounting for more than 90 percent of the country’s total output, as investment in processing and standardized packaging helps the product reach international markets.

 

According to Esmail Ghorbani, head of Gonabad’s Agricultural Department, the area under sumac cultivation has reached 1,520 hectares, up 20 percent from last year. Production is expected to reach around 500 tons this year, marking a 15 percent increase.

 

The region’s favorable climate and soil conditions, particularly in the southern highlands and Kakheh district, have contributed to the high quality and organic characteristics of Gonabad sumac. Authorities plan to expand cultivation to 2,000 hectares.

 

“Efforts are increasingly focused on moving beyond raw sales and developing local processing industries. Gonabad is expected to produce about 118 tons of processed sumac powder this year for domestic and export markets.”

 

Last year, 10 tons of processed Gonabad sumac were exported to European countries and several Persian Gulf states, demonstrating the product’s ability to meet international food-quality and safety standards, he said.