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Dates / Date Sair (Sayer) Dates Piarom Date Zahedi Dates Industrial Date Rabby Dates Kabkab Date Chopped Dates Pitted Block Date Vacuumed Dates in Cello    Packs Pitted Dates in Cello    Packs	Raisins Sultana Raisins Golden Raisin Black Raisins Green Raisin
Date Paste	Pistachio
Date Nectar/Honey/Syrup
Raisins Scientific names Vitis vinifera L. Vitaceae Raisin - comes from the Latin racemes and means "a cluster of grapes or berries". Cultured for fruit, eaten fresh, processed into raisins or juice, with some cultivars adapted for the canning industry. The major producers in the world - United States (412,770 tons) - Turkey (210,000 tons) - Iran (140,000 tons) - South Africa (34,000 tons) - Greece (29,000 tons) - Australia (14,500 tons) - Mexico (16,000 tons) Iranian Raisin Iran is the third largest exporter of raisin in the world by exporting 92,000 tons (7% global Consumption) of raisins worth around 70 million dollars annually. There are different varieties of Iranian Raisins; Sultana Raisins, Golden Raisins, Black Raisins and Green Raisins. The advantage of Iranian Raisins is principally its price and different methods of processing, and that's the reason why Iranian Raisins are amongst the finest raisins in the world. It is believed that humans discovered raisins when they happened upon grapes drying on a vine. History books note that raisins were sun-dried from grapes as long ago as 1490 B.C. But several hundred years passed before it was determined which grape variety would make the best raisin. In Iran we can divide the variety of raisins into Seeded Raisins Unseeded Raisins, Green raisins, rice raisins and currants. Green raisins and rice raisins are obtained from seedless grapes and Currant is provided from variety of seeded grapes. We explain raisins preparation method, because these names are related to raisins preparation method as well as the kind of grapes, which is used in raisins production. In Iran over 200 varieties of grapes have been named in different languages, but it is obvious that most of these names are related to one item that has found different names in different locations. Why do some raisins have a different color? In Iran Raisin colors vary by their drying process. For example, a dark purplish/black raisin or Black Raisin is sun-dried. A light to medium brown raisins or Sultana Raisin is dried under the shade. A golden to bright yellow raisins is dried under shade and is also treated with sulfur dioxide to retain color and is called Golden Raisin or Golden Bleached Raisins. Green Raisin is green in nature but if sulfur is added the color will have a yellowish green color to it. Raisins Processing The processed raisins are prepared from clean, sound, dried grapes; are properly stemmed and cap stemmed except for cluster or uncap stemmed then the raisins are sorted and cleaned. Sizes and Count A 330 >= B 331-400 > C 500 Size pcs/100gr Maximum count - Pieces of stem %10 - Seeded %1 - Cap stem sum length / kg < 10cm - Sugared %5 - Discolored, damaged, or moldy raisins %5 Provided these limits are not exceeded: - Damaged %5 - Moldy %3 - Substandard Development and Undeveloped %2.5 - Foreign Materials: Stone 1pcs/10kg - Percentages of moisture %16 - Percentages of unclean max %5 Raisin, Nutrition and Health Raisins are the original candy-nature's candy. They are one of the most nutritious dried fruits in the world. Raisins are cholesterol-free, low in sodium and totally fat-free. They provide many necessary vitamins and minerals, including iron, potassium, calcium and certain B vitamins. Raisins are a good source of fiber and rich in antioxidants. Raisins are 70% pure fructose (a natural form of sugar), which is easily digested for quick energy Sultana Raisins Golden Raisins Black Raisins Green Raisins
Dates / Date Similar to milk, honey and grapes, dates are considered a complete diet and a very important item of food. With plenty of vitamins and minerals, date have 25% more potassium than bananas while being free of fats, sodium, and cholesterol. Dates play an important role in the diet and treatment of obesity and are the most important source of energy and food in date producing areas. The most exquisite species of dates are produced in Iran. The fruit has a large variety and more than 400 varieties of the fruit, some of which acclaimed worldwide, are produced in the southern, southwestern, and southeastern palm groves of Iran. There exists a good opportunity and a large potential for trade in this commodity in Iran. Due to climatic restrictions and the tropical nature of the date palm, dates are produced in 14 provinces of Iran together with Ghasre Shirin and Soumar in Kermanshah province, Tabas in the southern Khorassan province, Khor and Biabanak in Isfahan province, Taroud in Semnan province and extending from central to southern Iran. In the year 1997, about 230 thousand hectares of land were under date palm cultivation, 83.6 percent of which are productive. Hormozgan province, with a date productivity rate of 29.7 %, ranks first in the country followed by the provinces of Kerman, Khouzestan, Boushehr, and Fars, having a productivity rate of 18.8, 16.2, 11.8, and 11.6 percentage respectively. The production of dates from 192 hectares of palm groves in the country is approximately 877 tons with Kerman province (including Jiroft area) having the highest production share of 22.7 percent. Iran is the largest producer and exporter of date in the world with exports of 51.2 and 59.3 thousand tons in the years 1996 and 1997 respectively. Nutrition facts Comparison of Energy Content if Dates with that of other: Food (Fruit) Calorie / g Orange 500 Banana 1000 Grapes 800 Rice 1799 Bread 2250 Lean Meat 2244 Dates 3000 Vitamin Content of Date: Vitamin % 100 / gm Vitamin A 4.8 - 6 Vitimain C 0.77 - 2.7 Vitamin B1 0.07 - 0.1 Vitamin B2 0.03 - 0.05 Vitamin B3 0.33 - 2.2 Chemical Composition of Dates: A ripened date is composed of : CHO, H2O, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber Chemical Composition: Nutrients 100 / gm without seed Water (%) 22.5 - 24.5 Protein (gm) 2.0 Energy (ckal) 274.0 Sugar (g) 72.9 Crude fiber (g) 2.3 Ash (g) 1.9 Calcium (mg) 59.0 Phosphor (mg) 63.0 Iron (mg) 3.0 Sodium (mg) 1.0 Potassium (mg) 648.0 Fat (gm) 0.5 Vitamin A(1u) 50.0 Thiamin (mg) 0.09 Riboflavin 0.10 Niacin 2.2 Dates processing includes several stages such as: Separation of crown of the seeds, cleaning, drying, moisturizing, polishing, sterilization, pressing, cooling, grading, and packing. Date Products - Diced Date or chopped dates : a mixture of Soya flour and /or dextrose and dates; - Date Paste - preparation of date paste for use in the production of sweets, cerelac etc.; - High-Fiber Fruit - addition of edible fibers to dates for the production of certain diet foods and medicines. Dates are great for snacking and baking. Pitted Dates are ideal for snacking right from the package, or cut up to be used in cookies, cakes, muffins and breads. Stir date into stuffing's, side dishes or rice dishes for an added new twist. History As far back as 4000 years B.C. dates were already appreciated and commercially cultivated in what is known to day as southern Iraq. In the Old World, the near East and Africa are the regions where dates are grown in large quantities. Botanical name of the date palm The botanical name of the date palm, Phoenix dacty lifera L. is presumably derived from a Phoenician"Phoenix" which means date palm, and "dacty lifera" derived from a Greek word "daktulos" meaning a finger. Productions The main producing country in the world are Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, U.A.R., Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, USA, and in small quantities in Spain, Mexico, Yemen, Israel.   Date fruit production in Iran In recent years Iran has been a is a leading dates fruit producer in the world with an annual production of 900000 metric tons from 218000 ha of cultivated Land. Date palms grown mainly in South, South East, and South West of the country, and with less important in central of Iran. The main producing areas in Iran are : - Hormozgan 21.6%, - Khusistan 17.6%, - Bushehr 13.4%, - Beluchistan 12.2%, - Fars 12.3% - Kerman 21.1% Commercially important Varieties in Iran There are about 400 varieties known in Iran, but only few of them are commercially important. The main varieties and their specifications are as followed : Name maturity shape color sugar content Barhi Sept. Round Yellow 75% Ferssi Sept. Thin Dark Brown 70% Gantar Oct. Thin Brown 70% Sayer Sept. Long Brown 70% Khazravi Sept. Thin Brown 70% Zahedi Oct. Short and Thick Light Brown 65% Dayri Oct. Long Brown to Red 75% Hallavi Sept. Thick Light Brown 75% Mazafati Sept. Thick Black ----- Kabkab Sept. Thick Brown to Dark Brown ----- Piarom Oct. Long Black 80% Rabbi Oct. Long Black 80%   Harvesting and Storage In Iran dates are harvested only per hand, the traditional orchards dose not permits any kind of mechanization for harvesting. The Fruits are harvested, graded and packed in the Orchard,then transported to the cold storage. In recent years there are rapid development in constructing of cold storage's. There are more and less still traditional stores for keeping dates, with high losses therefore our aim is to industrialize date harvesting, packaging and disinfest.   Year Export value by metric tons 1991 - 57774 1992 - 90617 1993 - 109119 1994 - 134508 1995 - 69927 1996 - 61558 1997 - 59227 1998 - 73582 1999 - 72847 2000 - 86634 2001 - 67208 Sair (Sayer) Dates Iranian Sayer date are semi-dry with a moisture content under 16%. They are usually harvested in October and have a dark brown color. They have a shelf life of approximately 18 months at room temperature. The The Iranian Sayer Dates is available in grades GAQ, FAQ and industrial as whole date, in pitted or non-pitted forms, and are also available as chopped date, that are either non-coated or they may be rolled in dextrose or rice flour. A. Sayer Date available as Pitted or Un-pitted 1 - Super Select maximum 70 pieces/lb. 2 - Select Grade A maximum 75 pieces/lb. 3 - Select Grade B maximum 85 pieces/lb. 4 - GAQ maximum 115 pieces/lb. 5 - FAQ (smaller sizes, no specific count/lb.) 6 - Industrial (no specific count/lb.) Piarom Dates Zahedi Dates Iranian Zahedi Date are dry with a moisture content under 14%. They are usually harvested in October and are a yellow gold color. They have a shelf life of approximately 18 months at room temperature.   Industrial Dates Rabby Dates Kabkab Date Chopped Date Diced Date or chopped dates : a mixture of Soya flour and /or dextrose and date; F. Chopped Date (all types) in the following sizes: 1 - 8 to 12 mm per piece 2 - sliced at length Rolled in either Rice Flour or Dextrose at customer's option Chopped Dates are lightly coated with a light dextrose coating to reduce stickiness. Chopped Dates are great to top hot or cold cereals, combine with nuts and other dried fruits to prepare a trail mix, and stir into cookies, cakes, muffins and breads.   Pitted Block Dates Vacuumed Date in Cello Packs Pitted Dates in Cello Packs   Date Paste Date Paste - preparation of date paste for use in the production of sweets, cereal etc.; Date Nectar/Honey/Syrup   Pistachio Iran is the largest producer and exporter of pistachio with a production of more than 113,000 MT. Iranian pistachio also has the best taste and quality among the other pistachio producing countries like the United States and Turkey. Pistachio is also a very high source of protein, nutrition and energy and also has a high percentage of potassium, calcium and phosphorous in it. AHT is ready to offer all kind of pistachio in all sizes: Round (Fandoghi), Jumbo (Kalleqouchi) and Long (Akbari, Ahmadaghayee and Badami)