Apricots “Industrial pitted”

Description

1. How it is grown and harvested: Uzbekistan is among the world’s largest producers of apricots, and apricot drying is a centuries-old tradition in the Fergana Valley, Samarkand and the foothill regions. Hot, dry summers with almost no rain during harvest allow the fruit to be dried naturally in the open air, and the large difference between day and night temperatures gives the fruit a high sugar content and a rich aroma. Industrial-grade apricots come from the same Uzbek orchards as our retail grades. The fruit is hand-picked when ripe, pitted and dried naturally in the sun. This grade includes apricots that are fully sound and safe but that vary more in size, shape or colour than retail calibres, making them ideal for applications where the fruit will be cut, diced, pureed or cooked. Using industrial grades makes good use of the whole apricot harvest: fruit that is perfectly sound but not uniform enough for retail packs becomes a valuable ingredient for food producers. The flavour and nutrition of this fruit are the same as in higher grades.

2. Processing and packaging details: The dried fruit is cleaned, washed and inspected to remove stone fragments, foreign materials and spoiled pieces. Sorting focuses on food safety and soundness rather than appearance. The product is packed in food-grade liners inside cartons or bulk packaging suitable for industrial customers, and can be supplied in larger lots for continuous production. The product is offered in two calibres: Size 1 (large, select fruit) and Size 4 (smaller fruit, an economical choice for processing, baking and compotes). Store dried apricots in a cool, dry place (ideally 5–15 °C, relative humidity below 65%), away from direct sunlight. Cold storage helps preserve colour and softness for longer. Under proper conditions the product keeps its quality for 12 months or more. Each lot can be supplied with export documentation, including a phytosanitary certificate and certificate of origin, on request.

3. Health benefits and nutrition: Industrial-grade apricots retain the full nutritional value of dried apricots: potassium, beta-carotene, iron, magnesium, dietary fibre and natural fruit sugars, allowing manufacturers to add real fruit nutrition and natural sweetness to their products. For food producers, dried apricots also help reduce added sugar, since their natural sweetness can replace part of the sugar in many recipes. This grade is designed for jams, fruit fillings, bakery products, cereal bars, muesli and granola, dairy and yoghurt preparations, sauces, purees, baby food and dried-fruit pieces — anywhere a reliable, economical apricot ingredient is needed.

Typical values. Sun-dried, no added sugar or colourants. Contains sulphites.