Iran Organic Products محصولات ارگانیک در ایران

by Reza Ganjavi

اجناس معمولی را به جای اجناس ارگانیک قالب می‌کنند و فرض می‌کنند مشتری ابله است.

A few years ago I went to Bioneshan in Saadat-Aabaad and the guy falsely told me some products were organic which I knew they were not. He thought I don't know the subject. He tried to deceive and cheat me. I reported the problem to Mr. Bidi - the owner of the company. 

Recently, again, I went in the same shop. Another worker was working there. Same story!! They tried to cheat me by saying products are organic that I know are not organic. That was very disappointing, especially, given it happened at the same store. 

I researched the subject. And came to some disturbing facts:  That many products that are even marked as organic, or even are certified as organic, are not organic.  For example, some eggs I bought at a local grocery store "Baghaali" are marked as organic but they are not. And some pasta I bought is even certified as organic but I heard they use GMO flour. 

I also bought some zereshk (barberries) which say organic but when I called the company to inquire they said that their company which is basically a packaging / distributor is "certified" as organic but she would not tell me if the farm is organic - which I find to be suspicious. (name of the company: Armaaghaane Sabz - "Green Organic Products" - شرکت محصولات ارگانیک ارمغان سبز).

The ethical problem is that it seems to me that the organic industry in Iran has become just another money making mechanism, with exception. I do NOT trust the even the certification process. I've heard horror stories where the "wrong" farmer who did not want to bow to pressure to sell non-organic as organic, was bullied not to get certification including by the very inspector who has issued certification to that farm for years. 

The only brand I trust is REZVANI. I have no financial interest or any conflict of interest, and I am not receiving anything whatsoever for saying this. It's purely my own personal impression from having researched the company, that I can trust it. That they have the integrity to NOT sell me things that are not organic. 

ORGANIC ASSOCIATION  -  انجمن ارگانیک

I went to the organic association (https://iranorganic.org/) to ask questions about he certification process and to report the issue I had once again seen at Bioneshan. At the end I also asked why they are not promoting Rezvani organic products on their website. They have a list of organic producers and Rezvani is completely missing (iranorganic.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/لیست-تولیدکنندگان-ارگانیک-031222.pdf). Why? 

By the way, I absolutely do NOT trust any of the companies in that list because in my view, the whole organic certification in Iran is untrustworthy. One of the key supporting evidence for this is Rezvani's own website where he has posted court decisions, etc. - against the organic association! 

https://www.rezvanicommercial.com/گواهی-ارگانیک-و-پاسخ-به-شایعات/  

شفاف‌سازی درباره گواهینامه‌های ارگانیک کشاورزی رضوانی و پاسخ رسمی به شایعات انجمن ارگانیک ایران

IRAN ORGANIC ASSOCIATION CLAIMS IT DOES NOT KNOW AND HAS NEVER HEARD OF REZVANI WHICH IS THE COUNTRY'S BIGGEST ORGANIC PRODUCER !! 

Hamid-Reza Rezvani is a well-respected authority in organic farming, inside and outside Iran. He's a man of integrity who would never mislabel non-organic products as organic, unlike so many other Iranian organic sellers where they redefine the term "organic" in their mind, not according to the universally accepted meaning, but what makes they money! 

I met the association's Secretary of the Board (dabir) Shabnam Vosooghi who came out after the lady at reception couldn't answer my questions. I told her about the recent incident at Bio Neshan trying to cheat me by misrepresenting non-organic products as organic -- and I also asked her why Rezvani is not on their website. 

She blatantly lied: I don't know Rezvani. I've never heard of Rezvani !!! How could it be that Iran's organic association has never heard of Iran's biggest and best organic producer?!

I heard that she has claimed to have a "PhD in Organic" from Germany. I couldn't find any reference to such a program. 

I TRUST REZVANI ORGANIC FARMS

Rezvani I trust. I don't get anything for saying this and he's not my relative! I only say this to help those who want to find organic products they can trust. Rezvani's products can be found in some organic shops but the best source is direct order: 

https://rezvanicommercial.com/خرید-آنلاین-محصولات-ارگانیک-فروشگاه-ک/

I was disappointed that he's also started selling organic meat but I asked him and he has his good reasons, and has questioned and evaluated the moral implications. 

BIONESHAN / MR. BIDI

Mr. Bidi called me after I was at the Organic Association. When I was there, Ms. Vosooghi called Mr. Bidi and said someone is here and says he has evidence that your shop has misrepresented non-organic products as organic. Later that day I got a call from Mr. Bidi who apologized but apology when it is for repeated wrong actions is not meaningful. He had already been notified of such misrepresentation in the past but the misconduct at his shop, in deceiving the public, continued. He encouraged me not to file a formal complaint with the association. I don't have much faith in the association anyway so I probably won't waste my time filing the formal complaint.

Two reviews for Bioneshan on Google Maps: 

Shamelessly dishonest

Once again, they blatantly lied saying "all our products are organic" - and "the figs are organic" which I 100% am sure they are not. Their rationale was incredibly illogical and embarrassing. By the way, the figs had no organic certificate, and I already know the brand, that they absolutely are not organic. The guy didn't know I know the subject, and tried to cheat me, like they apparently do to unassuming shoppers who trust these people. What a shame!! And what a blow to the organic sector in Iran which gets a bad reputation for being untrustworthy. And it's a disgrace to hard-working genuine organic farmers in Iran -- like Mr. Rezvani the king of Iran's organic farming, who works ethically, honestly, diligently to provide truly organic products. Shame on you Mr. Bidi. I would not trust any product with the label: Bioneshan.

Dishonest

I have them on video lying, telling me that all their fruit is organic. I happened to know the subject and revealed their lie but an average customer would fall for that. That's cheating. Very uncool. I don't trust this shop. Another reviewer on Google Maps, on their listing which is marked as "closed" but they have several shops open in Tehran, wrote:

Mohammad Nasirzade

Local Guide · 35 reviews

اجناس معمولی را به جای اجناس ارگانیک قالب می‌کنند و فرض می‌کنند مشتری ابله است.