Tehran – Iran's North Khorasan Province has exported 620 tons of locally grown cherries to Russia and Kazakhstan during the current crop year, backed by expanded cold storage capacity that is boosting the province's horticultural exports.

 

Omid Misaq, Director of Plant Protection at the North Khorasan Agricultural Organization, said newly operational cold storage facilities have enhanced the province's ability to preserve and ship fresh produce to overseas markets.

 

He noted that the Narin Balqis cold storage complex in Esfarayen, with an annual storage capacity of 5,000 tons, serves as a key export hub for cherries as well as other fruits, including apples, pears, grapes, pomegranates, oranges, dates, and jujubes.

 

According to Misaq, the expanded infrastructure is helping reduce post-harvest losses, improve supply chain efficiency, and strengthen North Khorasan's access to key export destinations, particularly Russia and Kazakhstan.

 

He added that the province's premium-quality cherries are in high demand both domestically and internationally, with North Khorasan ranking seventh among Iran's cherry-producing provinces.