Drying of apricots

Apricots are relatively easy to dry and dried apricots are a popular product worldwide. They are a good source of vitamin A, iron and sugar, and where they are in abundance, their processing can provide valuable income-generating opportunities. The methods of drying apricots vary from simple sun drying through solar drying to large-scale artificial dryers. The traditional sun drying of apricots involves de-stoning the fruit and placing it on flat rocks for approximately six to nine days. This produces a dried fruit with an uneven dark brown colour and a tough, leathery texture. Using a solar dryer or artificial dryer produces a higher quality product which will attract a higher market price. The choice of drying method depends on several factors, including the local climate at the time of harvest and the intended end-use of the dried apricots.