South Khorasan province, Iran's leading jujube producer, is anticipating a bountiful harvest of 9,000 tons of dried jujube this year, according to the eastern province’s head of agriculture organization.

 Despite facing challenges from a late spring frost and high summer temperatures, the province's production is expected to surpass the previous year's output by 7%, Hossein Akbari said.

Approximately 70% of South Khorasan's jujube production is exported, while domestic consumption, particularly of fresh jujube, is also on the rise, he said.

“The province's 5,811 hectares of jujube orchards are cultivated by about 9,250 farmers, who begin harvesting in mid-August and continue until late September.”

The official also said that the province is investing in jujube processing to meet the growing demand.

“Eight processing plants with a combined annual capacity of 2,000 tons are currently operational, while the total annual production exceeds 12,000 tons.”

A significant development for the province's jujube industry is the establishment of a mother orchard. This initiative, backed by extensive research and local expertise, aims to produce high-quality seedlings and further boost production.

Two new jujube varieties, Sioujan and Mazan, have been identified and are being made available to farmers for propagation.