Plum knowledge from farmer to dried fruit for export

Plums are a fruit with a wide variety. Chile, Spain, Moldova, Uzbekistan, the United States, Turkey, Iran, Tunisia, and Romania are the largest exporters of plums in the world. The major importers of fresh plums are China, India, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, Russia, and Arab countries. In the field of dried plums, China, Turkey, Iran, the United States, and Chile are important producers and exporters.
Types of plums: Black plum, Gold Drop, Shablon, Bukhara, Akhtari, Yellow, Centrize, Khaki, California and local plums such as Barqani and Tarqbeh…

Based on the shape of the fleshy plum and the elongated plum, it is divided into red, black, and yellow, and in terms of taste, it is divided into sour and sweet.
Note: White powder on plums is a sign of freshness. And the important production areas are Neyshabur, Mashhad, Urmia, Tabriz and Karaj.
The nutritional value of dried plums is high in minerals, vitamins, potassium, antioxidants, and fiber. If the plum is black, it contains vitamin K, and if it is yellow, it contains vitamin A.
Various methods of drying plums in large quantities
The sun-dried method: First, wash and slice the plums, then add a little salt and place them on a net in the sun. Depending on the juiciness of the plums and the amount of heat in the sun (the best temperature is 32 and the humidity is low), drying is complete within ten days.
Dry method of thermal machine: In this method, after washing, the plums must be pitted and cut into thinner slices and placed in the trays of the machine. Then, they are placed in an industrial machine at a temperature of 55 to 60 degrees, with hot air flow and reduced humidity for about 12 to 24 hours. If the machine is a cabinet, open the machine slightly to allow moisture to escape and improve air flow. Very little disinfectant can be used during washing to disinfect.
Blanching If you boil the plums for two minutes, peel them and dip them in ice water, the skin will peel better and spread them out on a towel to drain the water and improve the color.
Comparison table of the best varieties for drying
Not all plums are suitable for drying. The best plums are ripe, low in water (firm), healthy, high in sugar, with thin skin without cracks or pests. After drying, they have better taste, color, and volume.

Iran exports various types of dried plums to Russia, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, China, the European Union, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Arab countries.