A farmer is picking dates from a palm tree plantation on the outskirts Shadegan, southwestern Iran, August 6, 2017. This year the harvest season has commenced earlier than usual due to hot summer. According to Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, and Mines, the country exported around 210,000 tons of dates valued at $208 million in the previous Iranian calendar year (March 2016-March 2017). Mehdi Pedramkhoo/ Tehran Times