Turkish Dried Fruits Wholesale Guide: Apricots, Figs, Sultanas & More

# Turkish Dried Fruits Wholesale Guide 2026: Apricots, Figs, Sultanas, Raisins and Specialty Varieties Turkey is the undisputed global leader in premium dried fruit production. The country supplies approximately 80 percent of the world's dried apricots, ranks as the largest exporter of dried figs, sits in the top three for sultanas and seedless raisins, and produces unique heritage varieties (mulberries, jujube, sour cherries) found in few other origins at export scale. This 2026 wholesale buyer guide covers what international importers, retail chains, food-service distributors, snack manufacturers and confectionery brands need to know when sourcing Turkish dried fruits at container scale. ## Malatya IGP Dried Apricots: 80 Percent of Global Supply Malatya province in Eastern Anatolia produces over 80 percent of the world's dried apricots, drawing on more than 5,000 hectares of apricot orchards and centuries of sun-drying expertise. Malatya IGP (Indicacao Geografica Protegida, EU-registered geographic indication) covers Hekimhan, Kuluncak, Akcadag and Yesilyurt sub-regions where the unique combination of altitude, mineral soil and continental climate produces the world's most flavor-concentrated apricots. Two main commercial grades exist: Sun-dried natural Malatya apricots (no SO2 treatment, dark brown color, organic-certifiable, premium retail and gift-set positioning) and SO2-treated bright orange apricots (industry standard for retail blister packs, snack bars and confectionery applications). Both grades come in size classifications: Jumbo (largest, 70-80 fruits per kg), Large (80-100), Medium (100-120) and Industrial (>120, for chopping and ingredient channels). Acceptable specs: moisture below 22 percent for sun-dried natural, below 25 percent for SO2 grades. Total sugar 60-72 percent. Sulphur dioxide for treated grades capped at 2,000 ppm EU max, 3,500 ppm USA. Heavy metals lead below 0.10 mg/kg, ochratoxin A below 10 ppb. ## Aydin Sarilop PGI Dried Figs Aydin province on the Aegean coast supplies the Sarilop variety, registered as PGI (Protected Geographic Indication) under EU regulation. Sarilop figs are naturally sun-dried in groves, hand-graded for size and color, then either fumigated with food-grade phosphine or natural-cured for organic markets. Turkey supplies roughly 60 percent of global dried fig exports. Commercial size grades: Lerida (premium 90-100 fruits per kg), Protoben (110-130 per kg), Garland strung (artistic retail presentation), Pulled fig (manually flattened for snack and gift packaging) and Industrial (chopped and natural granules for cereal, bakery, confectionery). ## Manisa Sultanas and Aegean Seedless Raisins Manisa and Izmir provinces produce the world's premium sultana and seedless raisin volumes. Two major Turkish raisin grades dominate export: Sultaniye sultanas (golden color, achieved via natural sun-cure plus light SO2 stabilization) and Black Corinth-style natural raisins. Caliber options range from 8 mm to 11 mm. Specs: moisture 14-17 percent, total sugar 70-75 percent, capstem and dried fruit fly limits per EU 2073/2005, ochratoxin A below 10 ppb. Organic Sultaniye is widely available at 35-50 percent premium. ## Specialty Heritage Varieties Beyond the volume varieties, Turkish exporters offer unique heritage dried fruits rarely found at scale elsewhere: Mulberries (white and black, Erzincan and Bayburt origin, premium snack and topping), Jujube (Chinese date, traditional Anatolian medicinal fruit, growing health-food demand), Sour cherries (Tekirdag and Bursa origin, sweetened or natural, ice cream and bakery ingredient), Cranberries-style barberries (Anatolian wild-harvest, Persian cuisine ingredient), and Mixed trail mix (custom blends with nuts and seeds for retail snack channel). ## Certifications and Compliance Major Turkish dried fruit exporters carry: ISO 22000:2018, BRCGS Food AA+, FSSC 22000 V6, IFS Food, Halal HAK and JAKIM, Kosher OU and OK, EU 2018/848 organic, USDA NOP, JAS, Demeter biodynamic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Fairtrade FLO and Rainforest Alliance for selected origins. For EU import, ensure FCM (food contact material) compliance for packaging, EU 1169 labeling readiness, allergen declaration (sulfites in SO2-treated grades), and country-of-origin marking. ## Pricing and Logistics 2026 Indicative FOB Izmir Aliaga and Mersin prices, 2026 harvest (volatile, confirm at RFQ): Malatya IGP sun-dried natural Jumbo apricots 4.50-6.00 USD per kg. SO2 industry-grade Large apricots 3.00-4.50 USD per kg. Organic sun-dried Malatya 5.50-7.50 USD per kg. Aydin Sarilop Lerida figs 5.00-7.00 USD per kg. Manisa Sultaniye 9 mm sultanas 1.80-2.40 USD per kg. Organic Sultaniye 2.40-3.20 USD per kg. Erzincan dried mulberries 8.00-11.00 USD per kg. Lead time FOB 14-21 days for full-container retail-pack shipments, 7-12 days for bulk 25 kg cartons. ## Sourcing Workflow For each variety, request lot-specific COA covering moisture, sugar, SO2 (where applicable), heavy metals, mycotoxin, microbiological, and pesticide residue panel. Order 200-500 g samples, run sensory panel against your destination market expectation, place 1-5 MT pilot in final retail packaging, validate, then scale to full container with confirmed LC at sight or staged T/T. Connect with verified Turkish dried fruit exporters via FromTurk to receive multiple competing RFQ responses within 48 hours from Malatya, Aydin, Manisa and Erzincan origin specialists.