Tehran – Jujube, cultivated in Iran for more than 4,000 years, has earned recognition as a national brand and is preparing to make its mark on global markets, according to a senior agriculture official.

 

Speaking Wednesday at the inaugural Provincial Jujube Festival in South Khorasan, Ali Zolfaghari, head of the Agricultural Mechanization and Industries Development Center at the Ministry of Agriculture, called for stronger and more practical support for jujube producers across the processing and marketing chain.

 

Zolfaghari noted that South Khorasan produces around 85% of Iran’s jujube crop, yet the fruit remains underrepresented both domestically and internationally. He said regional festivals like this one can serve as a springboard for expanding production, improving branding, and opening new markets.

 

On the province’s processing capabilities, Zolfaghari reported that 11 packaging facilities currently have a combined nominal capacity of 5,000 tons, while processing plants handle an additional 2,000 tons annually.

 

He also announced plans to establish 23 new processing factories in South Khorasan, highlighting Iran’s broader effort to build a strong export market for this ancient and valuable crop.