The dried fruit market - France

Dried fruit can be divided into 2 categories:fruit that is naturally devoid of water and fruit that is artificially dried. The first category includes oilseeds (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts, pistachios), fleshy fruits (goji berries, cranberries) and seeds (sunflower, linseed, chia, pumpkin, etc.). The second category includes fruits such as grapes, bananas, apricots and prunes. Dried fruits can be eaten directly, in which case they are sold in bulk or in bags with the option of assortments, and they can also be used as a cooking ingredient, for pastries or to season salads, for example. Dried fruit is packed with nutrients such as carbohydrates, lipids and vitamins. These different nutrients have various health benefits, from being a source of energy to having a satiating effect. Dried fruit is also a natural food that can be eaten unprocessed. These different aspects appeal to the French, as they correspond to new consumer trends. Dried fruits are produced and consumed all over the world, and each country has its own specialties. For example, the USA produces 76% of the world's almonds and Turkey 62% of its hazelnuts, while China consumes the most peanuts in the world and India the most cashews. As far as France is concerned, the leading brands on the French market are Mondial fruits secs, Maitre Prunille and private labels. One of France's strengths in the dried fruit market is its prune production, which will rank 4th in the world by 2021. French prunes hold the IGP (Protected Geographical Indication) designation for Agen prunes, and are the most widely consumed dried fruit in France. Unfortunately, poor weather conditions have made 2021 a more complicated year for French producers, who have had to harvest their prunes prematurely, which is likely to reduce annual production by 62.5% compared with 2020. The Covid crisis was a major growth factor for the dried fruit sector. However, at present, the decline in teleworking, the resumption of consumption outside the home, and above all inflation have led to a fall in sector sales of around 3% in 2022, after a 4% increase in 2021.