Iran’s northern provinces are rich in sulfur and therefore the oranges grown and the concentrates produced, are bitter in taste. This has affected orange juice exports, said Valiollah Davood-Abadi, secretary of Iran’s Juice and Fruit Concentrate Producers Union, FAO.ir reported.
Large quantity of sugar has to be added to the juice to mask its bitterness. In addition with increase in sugar prices, it is not affordable for producers. The best solution is to increase the cultivation of oranges in the southern parts, as the taste of southern oranges is sweeter. But only a small amount of oranges are harvested in the south at present, he added.
