Conventional Dried Apricots continue to be one of the highly demanded dried fruits in the international market. Their characteristics of having a striking red-orange color, a sweet-tart taste, and a high nutrient value have made them extremely popular. These dried apricots have significant applications in healthy snacking foods, bakery products, confectioneries, and specialty ingredients. With the growing need for healthy, natural, and high-value foods in the international market, their purchasing trend has also been increasing.
This ultimate guide reviews all you need to know about Conventional Dried Apricots. This includes their processing, the reasons behind the value of purchasing them from Turkey in the international market.
Conventional Dried Apricots vs. Organic
Conventional dried apricots would involve apricots that have been harvested when they are fully ripe. Such apricots would then be dried in a modern manner. Furthermore, the apricots would contain sulphur dioxide (SO₂) to preserve them in their orange-yellow color. Sulphuring the apricots serves to give them a pleasing aesthetic in addition to preventing the apricots from being damaged by oxidation or microbial action.
They have been widely adopted by:
• Retail brands selling packaged dried fruits
• Bakeries & Con
• Snack & Granola producers
• Manufacturers of breakfast
• Food service distributors
• Industrial ingredient suppliers
Conventional Dried Apricots are the leaders in the international dried apricot market due to their stability and aesthetic presentation.
Why Turkish Conventional Dried Apricots Dominate the Global Market
Turkey, particularly the world apricot capital of Malatya, has long been the unrivaled world leader in dried apricot exports. Apricot quality cannot be matched in Turkey due to the favorable climate conditions of the country.
Main Benefits of Turkish Conventional Dried Apricots
1. Best Color & Visual Appearance
The treatment of the Turkish apricot juice with SO₂ enables the fruit to maintain a striking orange-yellow color.
2. Consistency in Texture & Moisture Levels
Malatya producers employ controlled drying conditions to reach the optimal level of moisture to keep apricots softened, chewy, and very suitable for direct eating or for different recipes.
3. Availability throughout the
Turkish suppliers have well-established storage facilities to ensure a steady supply of chips even in peak seasons. Such suppliers have the capabilities of mass production.
4. International Food Safety Compliance
Leading exporters offer:
• ISO/HACCP/BRC
• Examples of
• Pesticides and SO₂ analysis
• Quality control from the orchard to the packaging
This makes them the chosen suppliers for the food industry, retail stores, importers, and distributors.
Production of Conventional Dried Apricots
The processing of the juice also helps in determining the color. Below is a brief description of the juice processing procedure:
1. Harvest
Apricots are harvested by hand when they attain optimal sugar content in July to August.
2. Washing & Sorting
They undergo washing, sizing, and grading in terms of quality before drying.
3. Sulphuring
Apricots are subjected to controlled concentrations of SO₂ in a closed chamber.
This step helps in retaining color. Additionally, the process reduces oxidation.
4. Drying
Fruits are dried in the sunlight or in drying tunnels.
The intention would be to develop a stable moisture content suitable for processing.
5. Pitting & Calibration
After drying, apricots become:
• Pitted
• Classified by size
• Inspected for a uniform color and texture
6. Packaging
Apricots are packed in either bulk cartons or ready-to-sell packs according to customer orders.
Uses of Conventional Dried Apricot in Industries
Because of the quality that they offer, Conventional Dried Apricots come into play in the following industries:
• Bakery & Pastry Products
Applied in baking cookies, cakes, bread, energy bars, and pastries.
• Breakfast Cereals & Granola
Provides sweetness and coloring to mixtures of breakfast cereal.
• Confectionery & Chocolate
Regularly diced or chopped for making chocolate bars or fruit mixtures.
• Ready Meals & Health Foods
Is commonly used in gourmet recipes, salads, trail mix, and health foods.
• Retail Packaging
Available in whole dried form or in sliced form in high-standard packaging.
Their versatility makes them a critical ingredient in world food production.
Nutritional Values of Conventional Dried Apricots
Minimally processing the apricots, Conventional Dried Apricots contain high amounts of the necessary
• Dietary Fiber for digestive health
• K+ ions for electrolytes
• Vitamin A for the skin, eyes, Immune system
• Free radical
• Iron & Magnesium
• Healthy Natural Sugars
Their high nutrient value makes them a favored constituent in health-related products.
Why Importers Prefer Conventional Dried Apricots
The following reasons make importers and manufacturers in Europe, Asia, North America, and the Middle East always prefer conventional Turkish dried apricots:
• They have aesthetic appeal and high marketability
• They have a long shelf life, very suitable for international transportation
• Supply is stable, scalable, and competitive in price
• Turkish suppliers have significant export expertise
• There can be quality variation compared to domestic supplies
Packaging Choices for Wholesale Buyers
Exporters usually offer the following
• Bulk cartons: 5 kg, 10 kg, 12
• Food service packaging: 1 kg, 2 kg bags
• “Retail packs:
• Customized Private Label Packaging on Request
Vacuum or nitrogen-flushed varieties exist for longer freshness.
Conventional Dried Apricots have always been a staple in the international dried fruits industry for their spectacular color, well-balanced flavor, and compatibility with the processing required in the food industry. Turkish origin apricots in particular, sourced from the Malatya region, have inimitable quality standards, safety of food supply, and cost-effectiveness.
Read – Processes Involved in the Manufacture of Conventionally Dried Apricots
Leading Sun-Dried Apricots Supplier: Quality, Traceability & Global Supply Excellence
There has been a steep rise in the international demand for sun dried apricots over the past decade due to the growing interest in all-natural foods. Unlike the case of sulphured dried apricots, the lack of chemical preservatives in the processing of sun dried apricots enables them to attain a strong brown color and a caramel sweetness in terms of taste. Consequently, there has been growing interest in seeking a partner who can supply quality apricots from Europe, North America, the Asian continent, as well as the Middle East. This makes the professional role of a Sun Dried Apricots Exporter extremely vital.
This detailed article investigates the international market for sun dried apricots, the benefits of acquiring them from trusted suppliers, and the different benefits derived from utilizing them.
What is Special about Sun-Dried Apricots ?
Sun dried apricots involve the traditional natural drying process of apricots that have been halved and placed in the sun for a number of days. Indeed, the apricots turn brown without the aid of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) in the process since the fruits undergo caramelization to produce:
• A naturally sweet & dense flavor
• Dark brown to amber in color
• High fiber & antioxidant levels
• A healthy ingredient for health-conscious individuals
Sun dried apricots are particularly sought after in the organic food industry, the clean label industry for snacking foods, baking industries, as well as the industrial product development industry.
Why Choose a Professional Sun Dried Apricots Exporter ?
A Sun Dried Apricots Exporter needs to be selected in order to ensure a steady supply of apricots. These people act as the link between the international customer and the farmer to ensure a standardized supply of produce to the international community.
1. Consistent Quality & Size
To classify sun dried apricots into different sizes or quality grades, the exporter adopts a calibration program. Thereby, the customer gets standardized apricots for retailing or for processing.
2. Traceability & Safety Standards
Genuine export companies supply the following documents:
• HACCP, ISO, B
• Pesticide residue analysis
• Microbi
• Down to the fruit: traceability from
Such openness is particularly important for purchasers in a regulated market.
3. Large Scale Capacity
The high-volume shipments of produce by the country’s exporters would not have been possible without the established relationships between the export outfits and the grower communities. Additionally
4. Competitive & Stable Pricing
With access to a grower network to sell to and the advantage of the harvest season, the competitive pricing of the fresh produce can be achieved.
Turkey: The Global Leader in Sun-Dried Apricots
Although sun dried apricots can also be obtained in many parts of the world, Turkey—the Malatya region in particular—is the leading supplier of apricots to the international market. Malatya apricots have long been identified internationally as the ‘apricot capital,’ cultivating apricots of supreme sweetness, flavor, and texture. The reasons for their preference for the sun dried type of apricot from
• High sugar niveau natelui
• Ideal Climate for Sun Drying
• Traditional processing techniques
• Commercial farms
• Experienced exporter network
Turkish exporters have clients in more than 100 countries. They remain the best partners in the chain of dried apricot supply in the international market.
Process of Producing Sun-Dried Apricots
The processing procedure involves a focus on natural techniques:
1. Harvest
Ripe apricots are harvested when their sugar content reaches the highest point.
2. Halving & Pitting
Cuts of fruits have pits removed prior to drying.
3. Sun drying
Apricots are spread on drying mats or wooden platforms under the direct rays of the sun.
Natural dehydration leads to a concentration of flavoring ingredients.
4. Sorting & Calibration
After drying apricots can be classified into different sizes like No.1, No.2, No.3, etc., prior to being checked for their defects.
5. Packaging for export.
The packaged product comes in bulk cartons, foodservice bags, or retail-ready packaging, depending on the customer.
This process helps to maintain the natural integrity of the fruits without the aid of any chemicals or retaining the color artificially.
Uses of Sun-Dried Apricots in the Global Market
A good Sun Dried Apricots Exporter provides the following products for different industries:
• Retail Snack Brands
Sun dried apricots are packed in high-end natural snack packaging.
• Bakery & Confectionery
Used in cookie-making, cake-making, pastries, and in chocolate inclusions
• Breakfast Cereals & Granola
Provides a natural sweetness to muesli mixtures.
• Health Food & Organic Brands
Employed in Clean-Label products emphasizing preservatives-free ingredients.
• Foodservice and Institutional Supply
Perfect for Restaurants, Caterers, & Bulk Food Distributors.
Since there is no sulphur in them, these apricots have a very high appeal to the organic customer.
Benefits of Partnering With a Trustworthy Sun Dried Apricots Exporter
1. Year-Round Utility Availability
They have stabilized their inventory even beyond the harvest season by utilizing the latest cold storage techniques.
2. Custom Packaging Options
Options include:
• 5 kg or 10 kg bulk cartons
• 500g-1kg
• Privately labeled retail
• Vacuum or Nitrogen Fl
3. Customized Product Specifications
According to the needs of the buyer, the exporter may offer the following
• Whole sun-dried apricots
• Diced or chopped pieces
• Industrial-grade material for processing
4. Compliance With Global Standards
Exporters remain updated about the following:
• EU standards
• FDA regulations
• Middle Eastern Halal specifications
• Asian market certifications
Market Trends Leading to a Demand for Sun-Dried Apricots
There are a number of worldwide trends that continue to drive the market for natural dried fruits:
• Clean-Label Movement
People would prefer the food to contain the least possible ingredients. Preservatives should not be present
• Increasing Interest in Plant-Based & Vegan Eating
Sun dried apricots are a healthful snack alternative.
Growth of Natural Sweeteners
Employed in the manufacture of bars, snack foods, and breakfast foods.
• Rise of Organic & Health Food Retailers
Sun dried apricots fit well in health-oriented product ranges.
These factors make collaboration between a good Sun Dried Apricots Exporter all the more precious. With the ever-changing nature of the international market trending toward natural and minimally processed food products, the need for a reputable Sun Dried Apricots Exporter in the industry has become even more vital. With their complex flavor profile and multiple applications in different food products, sun dried apricots constitute a high-end category in the food industry.
Read From Sun to Snack: The Journey of Unsulphured Dried Apricots