For years prunes were treated as a traditional staple — reliable, but unglamorous. That is changing. A clear digestive-health association and the broader clean-label trend have pushed dried plums back into growth, and buyers are widening their prune programmes accordingly. Here is what is behind the rise and how to source well.
From staple to functional favourite
Prunes carry one of the strongest health associations of any dried fruit: digestive wellness. Combined with natural sweetness and no added sugar, that makes them a natural fit for the functional-snacking and clean-label trends driving the category. Retailers are giving dried plums more shelf space, and manufacturers are using them in bars, bakery, and natural-sweetener applications.
Prunes and dried plums are the same product
A quick clarification that matters on pack: "prunes" and "dried plums" are the same thing — dried plums of drying varieties. Some markets prefer "dried plums" for retail because it reads as fresher and more modern. The bulk trade uses both terms interchangeably.
What to specify
From our prune range, the key choices are:
- Pitted vs unpitted — pitted is standard for retail snacking and manufacturing; unpitted is used in some traditional applications.
- Conventional vs organic — certified organic lots are available with documentation.
- Size and moisture — larger, softer prunes command a premium; moisture drives shelf life and shipped weight.
- Packing — 2.5 / 5 / 10 kg food-grade cartons, palletised for sea freight.
A reliable supply behind the trend
A growing line needs a supply that grows with it. As a family business with over twenty years in dried fruit — a Tuna Sourcing division — Dried Figs Co. supplies bulk dried plums against your written specification with retained samples and documented lots. Prunes sit naturally alongside our figs, apricots, and mulberries in a full dried-fruit range.
Send us your prune requirements — pitted or unpitted, conventional or organic — for availability and pricing.