Pomegranates are a highly nutritious fruit, rich in polyphenols, anthocyanins, vitamin C, and various antioxidants. Beyond being sold as fresh fruit, pomegranates are also processed into various products such as pomegranate seeds, pomegranate juice, concentrated juice, and fruit juice beverages, extending the value chain, increasing added value, and reducing post-harvest losses. So, how are pomegranates processed commercially?
Different finished product forms determine different processing procedures. The following describes several common processing methods:
1. Typical processing process is as follows:
Washing → Air drying → Sorting → Packaging → Refrigeration
First, the harvested pomegranates undergo a cleaning process to remove dirt and impurities from the surface of the fruit. After cleaning, the pomegranates are usually air-dried to prevent residual surface moisture from affecting storage and packaging. Subsequently, they are graded using sorting equipment based on size, weight, or appearance quality, with different grades of pomegranates entering different sales channels.
2. If the pomegranates are to be processed into pomegranate seeds for sale, the following steps are required:
Peeling and seed extraction → Washing and separation
After washing, the pomegranates are processed using a pomegranate peeling and seed extraction machine to extract the seeds. The extracted seeds need to be washed again to remove any remaining peel and impurities. The finished pomegranate seeds are usually packaged in boxes or bags and stored and transported in a low-temperature environment to maintain their freshness and quality.
3. If you want to produce pomegranate juice, the following steps are also required:
Juicing → Filtration → Homogenization → Sterilization
Before juicing, the pomegranates also need to be thoroughly washed. Then, the pomegranates are fed into the juicing equipment. The raw juice after juicing usually contains pulp and suspended solids, so it needs to be filtered to make the juice clearer and more stable.
In actual commercial operations, different customers have varying raw material conditions, target markets, and product positioning; therefore, there is no single “standard process” for pomegranate processing. We typically provide comprehensive pomegranate processing solutions tailored to each customer’s specific needs.