Only buy apricots during the season when they’ve been grown in the U.S. This means late spring through the summer. While apricots can be found in the winter, these will have been grown in South America, Australia or New Zealand and shipped a long distance.
Are apricots sold year round?
They’re in season from early May to July. Approximately 95% of the U.S. crop comes from California — so you can consider them (at least if you’re on the west coast) a semi-local treat. Fresh apricots are petite, round fruits that are pale to bright orange in color, depending on the variety and how ripe they are.
What month are apricots?
These fragrant, sweet fruits are in season from May to September. Find out how to buy the best apricots and prepare them, plus what to make with them.
Why are dried apricots hard to find?
The amount of farmland devoted to apricots has declined drastically since the 1920s. This has made the California apricot a bit harder to find. This is also one of the reasons that having dried apricots is a an advantage over fresh apricots, as they are available and ready to eat year-round.
What do dried apricots do for your body?
One cup of dried apricots provides 94% of your body’s daily need for Vitamin A and 19% of its iron. Dried apricots also contain potassium and antioxidants and have been known to lower cholesterol and improve digestion. Dried apricots are fat-free, low in calories & high in flavor!
Is there an apricot shortage 2022?
Apricot production in 2022 is expected to reach 128.4 thousand tons, which is +116% compared to last year’s production, which was heavily impacted by spring frosts. After two years marked by low harvests, and despite a decrease in surface area, production in 2022 should exceed the five-year average (+16%).
Are apricots good for you?
Rich in vitamin A, beta-carotene, and other carotenoids, apricots are excellent for promoting eye health. Lutein helps to support retina and lens health, while carotenoids and vitamin E support overall vision. Apricot nutrients also help to reduce the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts.
Should apricots be refrigerated?
Apricots. Apricots continue to ripen after picking. They should be stored at room temperature, away from sunlight and heat until they give softly to the touch and have a sweet aroma. Once ripe, refrigerate apricots as necessary to prevent spoiling, but cold temperatures may change their texture and taste.
What is the best time to eat apricot?
Apricots can be had any time of the day. They are commonly eaten during the evening or at night. You can either have dried apricots as they are or garnish them over salads, cereals or some other recipes. Being naturally sweet, apricots can also be had as dessert.
Will apricots ripen in the refrigerator?
But before we get into storage practices and shelf life, you need to know if your apricots are ripe or not. So we’ll start with that.
How Long Do Apricots Last?
| Counter | Fridge | |
|---|---|---|
| Apricots, ripe | 1 – 2 days | 3 – 5 days |
| Apricots, cut | up to 4 days |
Where are all the apricots?
Today, nearly 75 percent of the apricots grown in the United States come from California. The remainder largely comes from Washington, with less than 1 percent from Utah. Total U.S. apricot production was 33,400 tons in 2020 with a value of $34 million.
Why are there no apricots this year?
Lack of rain or high winds can damage buds before they blossom. Spring rains or late-spring frosts can also damage or kill buds and blossoms. Apricots in general perform best in climates with dry spring weather.
What is the difference between Turkish apricots and dried apricots?
Yellowish-orange Mediterranean (also known as Turkish) apricots are dried whole and then pitted. Their flesh is thicker and plumper than that of the California variety—not surprising since fruit dried whole will retain more moisture than halved fruit.
What are the side effects of eating apricots?
Side Effects of Apricot:
A compound called amygdalin is present in apricot kernels. This compound converts into cyanide after consumption. Cyanide poisoning can lead to nausea, headaches, thirst, lethargy, nervousness, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, and reduced blood pressure.
Do apricots have a laxative effect?
Apricots: Apricots (both fresh and dried) are often recommended as a natural laxative due to their high fibre content. Plums and prunes: Known as ‘nature’s remedy’, plums (and their dried variant prunes) are loaded with fibre and sorbitol – a compound that acts as a natural laxative.
Is it okay to eat dried apricots everyday?
The answer is, yes! Dried apricots also contain plenty of essential nutrients, like vitamin C, vitamin A, phosphorus, calcium and potassium. They also include a fair amount of fibre.
Is there a dried apricot shortage?
The average export price for dried apricots, no 2, is currently USD 5,900/mt FOB Mersin. Some exporters have cancelled their contracts, which were concluded at significantly lower prices at the beginning of the season, as the losses were too high.
Dried apricots: artificial shortage drives prices up.
| Dried apricots, Turkey | |
|---|---|
| Size | USD/mt |
| No 8 | 5,500 |
| FOB Mersin, 2,000 ppm |
Why is there a shortage of dried fruit?
A lack of lorry drivers is causing a shortfall in the amount of raisins, currants and sultanas used to make the filling hitting the UK. They are the latest products to be affected by the nationwide labour and supply chain crisis, which has left supermarket shelves bare of other popular items in recent months.
How many apricots can I eat a day?
2. Apricots are a recommended health food. Obviously dried apricots count as one of your five a day. The recommended portion is 30gms (3 or 4 apricots).
What happens if you eat too many apricots?
If you have a sensitive gut, consuming too much of the fruit can cause digestive issues, such as stomach cramps and indigestion, says Jones. Remember, apricot is rich in fiber — so you might be more prone to post-apricot GI issues if you don’t eat a lot of fiber in general.
Do apricots lower blood pressure?
Eating potassium-rich foods, such as apricots, may help prevent high blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke.