Dried figs are another member of the dried fruit and nut family that originated in Western Asia and then spread worldwide. According to Harley in 1985, the fig originally came from a tree called Ficus Carica, and this tree needs a dry place in a warm climate for production and to grow and reach maturity. Distribution of this fruit was so fast as it was very polular at that time. There is a long history behind this dried fruit, as this product is mentioned in the Quran, the Bible, as well as the Torah, and it is said that in the early years of the earth Adam and Eve did not invent fabrics that covered their bodies with leaves of FIG. Figs are edible both fresh and in a variety of dried, canned and canned forms. The main production center of this product in Iran is located in the Estaban valley in the province of Fars, where figs are grown on 20,000 hectares, it seems that all Iranian figs are produced in this province. One of the obstacles Iranian exporters face when exporting dried figs is aflatoxin, which results from contamination with toxic fungi. It can be said that the sun drying process is one of the main causes of pollution, because workers have to manually harvest the ripe dried fruits that are on the ground and then dry them in the sunlight, so the likelihood of infection is greatly increased in this case. way (Tosun and Delen, 1998). Figs are usually exported as dried figs or fig paste due to the longer shelf life in these two forms (Sadhu, 1990). The top three fig producers in the world include Turkey, the United States and Iran, which produce 1,077.21 tons of figs per year (FAO, 2003). According to FAO, Iran produced around 88,000 tons in 2007 and exported around 1,610 tons in 2005, showing that Iran's market share for this product is very small. The Iranian fig is also known as the small / small fig and the main feature of the Iranian fig is that it is dry, hard and wrinkled. Figs usually reach maturity levels around four years after planting and continue to grow for 20-25 years. The main importers of Iranian dried figs are China, Russia, India and Hong Kong. Iranian figs are classified into two main groups, open-mouthed (101) and closed-mouthed, and each type can again be divided into two or three types.
Distribution dried figs
The market for dried figs is expected to grow by an average of 5.43% to reach $784.825 million by 2024, up from $571.449 million in 2018. Global distribution and demand for dried figs is estimated to increase in the coming years due to increased disposable income and increased global availability. In addition, the growing awareness of the health benefits of figs is estimated to increase demand for them in the coming years.
- 101 AA: This is the most exclusive and expensive of all Iranian dried figs. The main feature of this type is a white or slightly yellowish color. This type is large in size, and most figs of this type have an open mouth, making them easy to eat and chew. The size of each fig of this type must be at least 22 mm, and figs with a closed mouth must not exceed 10%.
- 101 A: This is another type of Iranian dried fig that is also of the open mouth type. This type is smaller than 101AA and more reasonably priced. The characteristics of this type are also similar to 101AA, but the two types differ from each other in size and open mouth percentage. This type is also white-yellow, but each fig is 14 to 22 mm in size with 15% of the mouth closed.
- AA: This is the most favorable type for export because it is tariff competitive, large in size and has a semi-open window. This type refers to a closed mouth, but this type is not actually a 100% closed mouth, it is considered a half-open fig. The size of this type is 22mm, which is equivalent to 101AA, but the difference here is the percentage of the mouth open, which is partially open in this type of fig. The color should be yellow or white.
- A: This type of dried fig has some differences from other types, firstly, most figs of this type have a closed mouth, and the color of this type should be white or yellow, but brown colored figs are also acceptable. As for 101 AA, the fig size is between 14mm and 22mm. in this typology, a fig with an open mouth can also be seen.
- B: This is the most reasonable and lowest quality of Iranian dried figs. Since the size of figs is about 14mm and the color of this type is brown and grey, they are not very attractive. This type of dried fig is suitable for markets and buyers who are very price sensitive and only look at the price. This type can also be mixed with a slightly better grade A of this type and is called AB.
World production dried figs
Like many fruits prodcutions, fresh figs is rich in water. Water in fruit (or any other food) promotes microbial growth. This problem leads the fruit to rot over time and under favorable conditions. Long-term storage of products is possible in several ways. One of these methods is the use of the cold room, which obviously is not used in many places in the world. For example, fresh figs cannot be stored for a long time in the refrigerator. Another way to keep food for a long time is to dry it. This is possible by removing the water from the fruit. Water removal usually takes place by evaporation. Dried figs are also obtained with the same procedure. Figs can be dried in several ways. The first and most common method is the use of sunlight. The use of airflow and wind can also be used to dry figs. Also, reheating figs is one way to dry them. Due to the different conditions that exist, the method of drying figs can be different in large gardens, houses and production factories. One point to note in the beginning is that to dry figs, it is best to let the fruit dry in half on the tree and fall naturally. Harvesting fresh figs to dry them will reduce the quality of the final product.
Major fig orchards use the sun drying method. In this method, as mentioned in the article The figs from knowledge to gardening, the fig fruit is left on the tree until it is semi-dry. After the fruit falls and is collected from under the tree, it is poured into a place specially prepared in advance. These places are known as "Shpong" and obviously have other local names. You should try putting the figs on the sponge in one layer. The barn must be made in such a way that it is exposed to sunlight during the day. The time it takes to dry figs in Spain depends on the heat and temperature of the air, as well as the initial dryness of the figs. In general, we can say that the drying of figs in Espanga takes from 3 to 5 days. Harvesting figs from a seedling should also be done early in the morning, before the sun shines. Because once heated, the fruits become soft and difficult to store. If the harvested figs are not sufficiently dried and carefully stored, over time they can change color and lose their original qualities.
Dried figs world
Dried Fig Market - Forecasts 2019 to 2024 is a comprehensive study that aims to present the main market trends in different chapters covering different aspects of the market.
The study provides a detailed overview of the market in market dynamics sections detailing the key markets, drivers, constraints and opportunities in the current world’s market. The report analyzes regional markets for key opportunities and current technology penetration through life cycle analysis. The report also analyzes the market with comprehensive market segmentation by type, distribution channel and geographic region. Every year, 1.2 million tons of figs are produced in the world, and Iran is the fifth producer of this product with 58,000 tons. Last year, this organic product was exported to the amount of $17 million. Every year, 1.2 million tons of figs are produced in the world, and Iran is the fifth producer of this product with 58,000 tons. Last year, this organic product was exported to the amount of $17 million. The province of Fars and the city of Esteghban in Iran have the highest level of cultivation of figs in the country and are the first producer of this fruit in Iran, and since poisons and chemical fertilizers are not used in this region, Estehban figs are an organic product of Iran. It has a high value. Fars Province has 47,000 ha of mainland, of which 23,500 ha in Esteghban, 8,000 ha in Niriz, 4,800 ha in Darab, 3,800 ha in Jahorma, 3,200 ha in Kazron, 1,500 ha in Firozabad and 1,000 ha in Kovar and others.
Cities are located. Although countries such as Turkey, Egypt, Spain and Portugal have significant areas of cultivation and production, Iranian dried figs, especially Esteghban, are unique in quality and have no analogues in the world. Last year, the city of Estehbahn produced 12,000 tons of figs, and this year it is expected to rise to 14,000 tons. More than two million 200 thousand fig trees have been grown in this area, and most of the population of this city is directly or indirectly engaged in activities such as tending fig orchards in the rainforest and related activities. No chemical fertilizers or poisons are used in Esteghban and Neyriz Anjirestan and other regions of Fars province, which means that these Anjirestan are organic. To date, organic certification has been issued by the Dutch company Control Yoin for 400 hectares of these plantations, and certification has now been obtained for the remaining plantations. Currently, 9 fig processing plants operate under the cover of the Fars Province Agricultural Jihad Organization. The minimum annual capacity of these plants is 22,850 tons of figs, providing permanent employment for 194 people and seasonal employment for 970 people. Most fig processing plants package and export this product in both dry and wet form. Most of Iranian figs are exported to Vietnam, China, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Romania, Hong Kong and South Korea. As already mentioned, Estehban is a city located in Fars province, mainly engaged in the cultivation and cultivation of figs. harvest. About a thousand tons of figs are harvested annually in this center, most of which goes to the markets fresh, and some of them are stored dried for other seasons of the year and sent to the market in different seasons.
Estahban dried figs are mainly available in the market in multi-gram packages, and the packaging of these products uses vacuum and pressed nylon, because these nylons do not show moisture when dried fruits are stored and do not have the type They do not absorb moisture. With a few clicks and visits to stores that supply dried figs, you can buy a quality product without wasting time and effort. Since more than two-thirds of the Esteghban area is planted with figs. The amount of dried figs produced is very high and you can buy dried fruits at the best price. You can access the leading online sales center for dried figs and buy figs from all over the country. Buying in online stores has many advantages, including a low price due to the absence of an intermediary between the manufacturer and the consumer. Competition between growers and growers in this region is high and each grower gets a large market share; He puts higher quality and more suitable price in his highest sales prospect. Online stores have made it easier to access these sellers and suppliers. Comparison
