The best dry fruits are not necessarily the cheapest ones.
The best are the ones that are fresh, delicious and have a unique character, according to a new research by the Food Standards Agency.
The Australian Food Standards Authority (AFSA) says its new dry fruit rating system is a way to provide a more accurate picture of what’s right for a consumer.
In fact, a number of research studies suggest the best dry fruit is actually in the range of 3.5 to 5.5 per cent dryness.
“The best dry fresh fruit is generally in the middle, between 3.2 and 5 per cent,” says Dr Michael Pappas, director of food safety at the Australian Food and Drug Administration (AFLPDA).
“In terms of what you eat, a higher percentage of dried fruit is likely to be good for you than the lower percentage of fresh fruit.”
A review by the Federal Government of Australia’s dry fruit market found most of the products it looked at were over the top and were sold with the intention of being eaten, rather than consumed.
This was a particular concern for dry fruit from the dairy sector, which is known for its high levels of dairy protein.
“Dry fruit from dairy farms is not very high in vitamin C or vitamin B6, so it’s often more likely to contain calcium, magnesium, iron and zinc,” Dr Pappatas says.
“That’s where the Australian Government’s focus should be.
If the best fresh dried fruit can be sourced from a farmer who has a good quality product, that’s great, but if you’re going to buy a product from a retailer, that should be up to them.”
Dr Paddas says the dry fruit sector has a “problem”.
“We know that most consumers buy a lot of dried fruits, and the best quality dry fruit comes from farmers who have been doing that for a long time,” he says.
“But there’s a problem in the Australian dry fruit supply chain.”
A survey of supermarkets in the region found most were not aware of the dry fruits market.
“We’ve got a problem with farmers that don’t know the market and have very little knowledge of the market,” he explains.
“A lot of the suppliers are not very good at keeping their inventory up to date.”
Dr David Papp, director general of the Australian Dairy Farmers Federation, says there is a problem and he is calling for change.
“I think there’s been a lack of awareness from a lot more people, particularly in the dairy industry, that they need to be aware of their dry fruit inventory, particularly for dairy farmers,” he said.
“It’s important for people to understand the difference between a fresh and dried product.”
Dr Peter Jorgensen, a professor of food microbiology at Sydney’s James Cook University, agrees.
“If you’re buying a dry fruit, the freshest you can expect is to get a fresh product,” he tells 7.30.
The fresh fruit you’re actually getting is usually a mix between the most nutritious and cheapest products. “
What you’re getting is a mix of what is actually available in the market.
“So it’s very easy for people who are buying fresh to get the wrong product.” “
But with dry fruit producers, there’s actually a whole lot more of it out there than we might imagine.” “
So it’s very easy for people who are buying fresh to get the wrong product.”
But with dry fruit producers, there’s actually a whole lot more of it out there than we might imagine.
“In the dry produce industry, it’s not just about the fresher dried product.
Dr Pattas says that’s why a fresh dry fruit has to be at least two per cent pure. “
One of the main things to remember is that the more water that’s put into the farming system, the better the quality of those fruits,” Dr Jorgens says.
Dr Pattas says that’s why a fresh dry fruit has to be at least two per cent pure.
“There’s lots of different kinds of fresh, but the most common ones are between 2.5 and 4 per cent, and that’s what we’re talking about,” he adds.
“All the dry product that comes out of your dry fruit grower should be about 4 per cwt, so that’s pretty good.”
That’s because when water is used, it helps the fruit grow in more stable conditions, Dr Paptas says, which reduces the chances of mould.
“When water is put into a dry produce growing environment, it does help to keep that quality of fruit,” he told 7.70.
But there are ways to help growers and retailers alike, like using composted feed and growing in a container, which helps reduce mould growth.
“To make sure that your produce is as healthy as possible, it is very important to use composted feeds, like organic feed, in the grower,” DrPaptas explains.
“That will reduce the
