Consumers in Europe will soon be savoring the sweet taste of Afghanistan.  The United Kingdom’s leading pomegranate juice company recently agreed to a deal worth nearly $4.5 million with Afghanistan’s first juice concentrate facility.  Pomegreat became the first international company to purchase juice concentrate from Afghanistan, committing a minimum of 500 tons of pomegranate concentrate and 500 tons of fresh fruit from the Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Facility.

"Being given the chance to source the best pomegranates in the world from their spiritual home is something I couldn’t overlook,” said Adam Pritchard, chief executive officer of Pomegreat.  “The Afghan pomegranate is the best in the world.” 

“I am proud to have built this factory, and the commitment from Pomegreat gives me great hope for the future,” said Mustafa Sadiq, owner of Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Facility.

The Omaid Bahar Fruit Processing Facility, which opened in October 2009 with support from USAID, receives fruit from 50,000 farmers from at least seven provinces across Afghanistan.  The facility provides approximately 200 full-time jobs, with women composing about 35 percent of the staff.  USAID provides technical assistance, a cold storage facility, equipment, logistical support, and market linkages with farmers and international buyers.