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Moscow's market of dried fruit
Russia
Wednesday 19 December 2007
The Russian market of dried fruit has changed a lot in recent years. A few years ago, dried fruit were only available at farmers’ markets or greengrocers, and their choice was limited to the ingredients of a regular compote mix: dried apricots, prunes, apples and raisins. Today, dried fruit are available in all kinds of retail outlets in a variety that will satisfy the most demanding customer.
In Moscow, there are 31 dried fruits and berries on the market. Alongside the customary range, more exotic varieties of dried fruits are increasingly popular. The retail presence of dried fruits is highly dependent on the properties of the original fruit. For instance, large-size fruits like pineapples, pears, guava, cantaloupes, mango, papaya and some others are dried and retailed as rings, chips, slices, strips, dices, and so on. Smaller fruits are available whole in different sizes. Candied pineapples and papaya are available in a number of flavor varieties, such as apricot-flavored pineapple, kiwi-flavored papaya or mango, and so on. The traditional dried fruits – apricots, prunes and raisins – are also available in a great number of varieties. The original fruit type determines the size, color and shape of its dried derivative, not to mention the taste. For example, raisins can be black, dark, brown, golden, red or almost white, depending on the original grape type. Prunes come in different shapes. Pits are usually removed from fruit before they are dried. Other traditional dried fruits on the market include dates, red and black cherries. Russia imports dried fruits from 17 countries worldwide, including the former Soviet Union. The largest exporters to Russia are Iran (33.1% of total imports), Turkey (12.3%) and Afghanistan (11%). Exporting nations tend to specialize. For example, prunes are mostly imported from France (34.4% of total imports), followed by the United States with 18.8%, Chile with 12.5%, Moldova and Iran with 9.4% each. Argentina, former Yugoslavia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan supply 15.5% of prune imports between them. Iran supplies 48.9% of Russia’s raisin imports, followed by Afghanistan, which supplies 36.2%. Fifty five percent of dried apricots come from Turkey, and 20% from Iran. Dried figs are imported from Iran (58%), Turkey (24.7%) and Syria (11.3%). Eighty percent of dates come from Iran; the balance is supplied by Algeria and Tunisia. Notably, most candied fruits are imported from Thailand, and bananas, from Vietnam.
Raisins account for the highest percentage of dried fruit imports (27.8%), followed by prunes (20.1%) and dried apricots (11.8%). Together, these fruits make up more than half of Russia’s dried fruit imports.
In Moscow, there are 31 dried fruits and berries on the market. Alongside the customary range, more exotic varieties of dried fruits are increasingly popular. The retail presence of dried fruits is highly dependent on the properties of the original fruit. For instance, large-size fruits like pineapples, pears, guava, cantaloupes, mango, papaya and some others are dried and retailed as rings, chips, slices, strips, dices, and so on. Smaller fruits are available whole in different sizes. Candied pineapples and papaya are available in a number of flavor varieties, such as apricot-flavored pineapple, kiwi-flavored papaya or mango, and so on. The traditional dried fruits – apricots, prunes and raisins – are also available in a great number of varieties. The original fruit type determines the size, color and shape of its dried derivative, not to mention the taste. For example, raisins can be black, dark, brown, golden, red or almost white, depending on the original grape type. Prunes come in different shapes. Pits are usually removed from fruit before they are dried. Other traditional dried fruits on the market include dates, red and black cherries. Russia imports dried fruits from 17 countries worldwide, including the former Soviet Union. The largest exporters to Russia are Iran (33.1% of total imports), Turkey (12.3%) and Afghanistan (11%). Exporting nations tend to specialize. For example, prunes are mostly imported from France (34.4% of total imports), followed by the United States with 18.8%, Chile with 12.5%, Moldova and Iran with 9.4% each. Argentina, former Yugoslavia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan supply 15.5% of prune imports between them. Iran supplies 48.9% of Russia’s raisin imports, followed by Afghanistan, which supplies 36.2%. Fifty five percent of dried apricots come from Turkey, and 20% from Iran. Dried figs are imported from Iran (58%), Turkey (24.7%) and Syria (11.3%). Eighty percent of dates come from Iran; the balance is supplied by Algeria and Tunisia. Notably, most candied fruits are imported from Thailand, and bananas, from Vietnam.
Raisins account for the highest percentage of dried fruit imports (27.8%), followed by prunes (20.1%) and dried apricots (11.8%). Together, these fruits make up more than half of Russia’s dried fruit imports.
