If one product anchors the Turkish dried-fruit trade, it is the apricot. The Malatya region of eastern Türkiye produces the large majority of the world's dried apricots, and for international buyers it is the default origin. Here is how the golden gem moves in bulk.
Origin is the whole story
Malatya's altitude, continental climate, and apricot cultivars produce a fruit prized for size, sweetness, and a clean finish. The region's growers and processors have built generations of grading and drying expertise around it. When a specification simply says "Turkish dried apricots," it almost always means Malatya — and that shorthand is itself a mark of quality.
Natural vs sulphured: a colour and regulation decision
The most important commercial choice is processing:
- Natural (sun-dried) apricots are brown, with a deeper, more caramelised flavour. They suit clean-label and organic positioning.
- Sulphured apricots are treated with food-grade SO2 to preserve the bright orange colour and softer bite that many retail markets expect.
Neither is "better" — but your destination market's colour expectation and SO2 limits decide which you can sell. Declare the destination so the lot is matched to its MRL.
Grades, sizes, and formats
Our dried apricot range covers Natural, Sulphured, Ready-to-Eat, Diced, Paste, and certified Organic. Whole apricots are graded by size band (number of fruit per kg); diced and paste serve bakery, cereal, and confectionery manufacturers where uniform pieces matter more than appearance. Standard packing is 2.5, 5, and 10 kg food-grade cartons, palletised for container loads.
Specify before you buy
A precise brief gets a precise quote. For apricots, confirm: natural or sulphured, size band, SO2 limit, organic (yes/no), packing format, delivery term, and destination port. As a family business with over twenty years in dried fruit — a Tuna Sourcing division — Dried Figs Co. ships against that written standard with retained samples and documented lots.
Apricots pair naturally with our figs, raisins, prunes, and mulberries for buyers building a full dried-fruit range. Send us your apricot spec for availability and pricing.