Iranian Researchers Discover New Method to Keep Barberry Fresh in Storage for Long Time

Morteza Chaboki, the managing director of the knowledge-based company which is located in South Khorasan Science and Technology Park in Birjand, said in an interview with local Iranian media that exports of barberries in Iran has always faced difficulties because the fruit goes rotten soon and its is difficult to keep it fresh.

He said that "microbial load", "chemical fertilizer", "residual toxins" and "heavy metals accumulation" as four important factors that contaminate barberries and make them difficult for export, saying that "The barberry tree is very compatible with the climate of South Khorasan and due to its resistance, 90% of these trees do not need any chemical fertilizers or pesticides; This means that the production of the product is completely organic, but on the other hand, after harvesting, barberry is infected with microbes if it harvested using traditional and unprincipled methods."

The managing director of the knowledge-based company pointed to the 'barberry defense shield' as their solution for preventing the spoilage of the fruit, explaining, "When the barberry starts to turn from green to red, a special type of substance in a very small amount oozes on the barberry seed, which prevents the barberry from rotting and moldy, and prevents the barberry from being watered, like a defensive shield."

"After several years of studies, inspired by this defense shield, we have offered a barberry to the market that does not need to be refrigerated or frozen. This barberry can be exported fresh to all parts of the country and other countries."

He noted that Iran produces more than 95% of the seedless barberries in the world, adding that the exported barberries were usually in dried form.

"By using this method offered by us at the lowest cost, fresh organic barberry is exportable," Chaboki said.

"The basis of the preservative method of this product is a special combination of soil that is heated at 110 degrees Celsius and is completely sterile. It prevents the activation of bacteria inside this soil," the managing director of the company continued to explain.

"With this new method, the price of one kilogram of fresh barberry for export is equal to three kilograms of pistachios," he further shsaid.

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