TEHRAN -- Iran exported $240 million worth of fruit and vegetables in the last Iranian calendar year (ended March 20, 2007), the head of the Iran Fruits and Vegetables Exporters Union said here on Friday. In terms of non-oil exports, fruit and vegetables stood third to petrochemical and mineral products, Reza Nurani told the Mehr News Agency.

He said that more than 734,000 tons of products worth $240 million were exported, showing an 81 and 58 percent rise in terms of weight and value respectively when compared to the previous year’s figures.

Greens, pomegranates, potatoes, onions, apples, watermelons, and kiwis mad up the bulk of the exported fruit and vegetables, Nurani added.