In my opinion, the tour of visiting Iran's pistachio industry was very well organized. The quality of the planned visits was excellent; however, it would have been much better if we had more time for some visits, especially the pistachio processing terminals. I will definitely recommend my friends and colleagues to participate in such tours in the future. The Iranian people are very hospitable and warm-hearted.
This is my first trip to Iran, and I came here specifically to get acquainted with the Iranian pistachio industry. I had a very good experience with this tour. I believe there are many opportunities for development that align with our company's interests. Our company is engaged in pistachio production and cultivation. Additionally, we conduct research and development in various pistachio cultivars.
Our company has a 50-year history of operations in Spain. Our first experience in Iran has been highly enjoyable. During this trip, we have concluded that there are various areas for mutual cooperation with Iran. Currently, our primary focus has been learning about the different pistachio cultivars/varieties that exist in Iran. As for the people of this country, I can also affirm that they are incredibly hospitable, friendly, and warm-hearted.
Visiting different locations allowed us to compare the pistachio production and processing in Spain with Iran. It was great to discover that Iran utilizes advanced technology for pistachio processing. During this tour, I also learned that the Iranian Pistachio Association is actively engaged in advertising and opening up new markets for Iranian pistachios. I believe it would be beneficial to leverage the capacity of IPA for investment in advertising and research. As a result, companies can collaborate in alignment with each other.
The trip to Iran was very fascinating for me. The most interesting part was visit to a green peeled pistachio kernel processing facility. Another surprising aspect for me was the presence of a large volume of female workforce in the Iranian pistachio processing plants. I never imagined that women would be so actively involved in the pistachio industry. I recommend women working in the nut and dried fruit industry in Europe to visit Iran, even though they would have to tolerate wearing a mandatory hijab. The people here are very welcoming and open-hearted towards their guests.
This tour was like a master's degree program in agriculture for me. Seeing the pistachio industry's operations in Iran was fascinating to me because it is very different from what we have in Spain. With good management of the orchards we observed, the yield per hectare was considerably high. This is something we can learn from in Spain. However, many things are not directly adaptable due to the mechanization of pistachio harvest in Spain, and thorough research is required before implementing any practices. I was already familiar with IPA through my participation in the INC Academia, and I am very grateful for the opportunity provided by IPA during this tour.
I had a positive experience and gained valuable insights from this trip. Coming to Iran to learn about the pistachio industry, especially as someone new to this field, was a wise decision. This tour proved to be highly beneficial for me as it allowed me to become acquainted with various producers, processors and exporters. I would recommend anyone interested in visiting the pistachio industry in Iran not to believe everything the media says about this country. You have to come and see the true picture for yourself.
Getting to know the people of Iran was truly amazing because the image portrayed in Germany about Iran is not true. I found this opportunity to create my own image. Getting a close look at the Iranian pistachio industry was fascinating for me. It helped me better understand how everything works. The exporters I met were well aware of what I deal with on the other side, and they seemed to be good at their job, which was very encouraging. The pistachio industry in Iran has a common platform through IPA, which can discuss and resolve important issues. I think the Iranian Pistachio Association is a voice for pistachio exporters.
On behalf of the visiting group from Turkey, I would like to express my utmost gratitude for the efforts of Iran Pistachio Association. I would like to address some areas that could be improved upon: 1. The participants of the tour had diverse backgrounds and interests. 2. The technical aspect of the orchards was not adequately covered. 3. This tour could have benefited from the presence of researchers from research centers & university professors. 4. Visiting nurseries, young orchards, and observing pistachio harvesting should have been included in the tour.
During the pistachio tour of Iran, participants will have the opportunity to explore various aspects of the pistachio industry. Organized by IPA (Iran Pistachio Association), this tour offers a unique experience of visiting Iranian pistachio plantations and processing facilities while also facilitating networking and business opportunities with existing and potential customers.
One of the highlights of the tour is the chance to visit pistachio orchards located in the prominent producing regions. Attendees will have first-hand experiences at dry processing facilities, gaining insights into the pistachio processing techniques. Special visits will be arranged to renowned pistachio kernel and green kernel processing plants. And last but not least, the tour will include dedicated B2B meetings, providing a unique platform for networking and conducting business discussions.
