Companies Buying Apricot: A Buyer's Guide for Growers in Malatya, Elazığ and Kahramanmaraş

When the harvest ends, the grower’s job is not over; the real question begins: “Who will I sell this crop to, when, and how?” Along the Malatya, Elazığ and Kahramanmaraş line, thousands of growers every year look for a way to sell the dried apricot they’ve collected from the drying beds, the in-shell or shelled kernels, and the shell itself, for the value it deserves. This article explains in plain language how a grower who wants to sell their crop can reach the right buyer.

Who Do You Sell Your Apricots To? Types of Buyers

There are three types of buyers in the market: village/market intermediaries (commission agents), local wholesalers, and trading companies that buy directly. A commission agent is practical, but a share is taken out along the way. When you sell to a company that buys directly, you can often see the return for your product more clearly. What matters is not who the buyer is, but whether the weighing is transparent, the price is current, and the payment is on time.

Which Districts Are Covered for Purchasing?

Although the heart of dried apricot production is Malatya, the growing region is not limited to it. The main areas we evaluate for purchasing are:

• Malatya: Battalgazi, Akçadağ, Darende, Doğanşehir, Yeşilyurt, Hekimhan, Arapgir, Pütürge, Yazıhan, Kale, Kuluncak, Arguvan
• Elazığ: Baskil, Keban, Ağın, Maden
• Kahramanmaraş: Elbistan, Afşin, Göksun, Ekinözü

Because of their own microclimates, the yellow apricot and sun-dried apricot grown in these districts carry different characteristics; this is also taken into account in pricing. Stating your region speeds up the process. For a more detailed district-by-district breakdown, you can see our Region by Region Apricot Purchasing: Malatya Districts, Baskil and Elbistan article.

Which Products Do We Buy?

We evaluate purchasing not just for a single product, but across the entire apricot chain:

• Yellow (sulphured) dried apricot — in every calibre, from Jumbo to industrial size
• Sun-dried (unsulphured) apricot — natural drying
• Apricot kernel — in-shell or kernel; sweet and bitter kernel
• Apricot kernel shell — as blasting granule and biomass

In other words, whatever you have on hand — fruit, kernel or shell — the door is open for evaluation.

What Determines the Price? (And Why There Is No Fixed List)

Giving a fixed list saying “this much per kilo” would not be accurate for dried apricot, because the price depends on more than one factor:

1. Calibre (size): the fewer the pieces per kilogram, the larger and more valuable the fruit.
2. Colour and homogeneity: bright, single-colour lots stand out.
3. Moisture content: an overly moist product is both riskier and loses value.
4. Sulphured/unsulphured distinction: sun-dried apricot and yellow apricot go to different markets.
5. That day’s market movement.

For this reason, the healthiest approach is to show the product and discuss the current value. We covered the factors that determine the price in a separate article: factors determining the price of dried apricot.

The Difference of Working With a Direct Buyer

Working with a trader who buys directly means knowing where your goods are going, witnessing the weighing together, and clarifying the payment process. As the chain of intermediaries gets longer, transparency decreases and the share left to the grower gets thinner. Whoever you sell to, be sure to ask about these three points (weighing, current price, payment speed).

How Can You Reach Us?

The process is simple: photograph your product, write down its calibre/your region/approximate quantity and send it to us. With the right information, we can make a current assessment quickly. You can reach our phone and WhatsApp details from the contact page and send your crop directly.

We are part of a line that connects growers who want to sell their crop with buyers looking for quality produce. Let’s talk first, so we can get the apricot you have to its true value. If you want a comparative look at which type of buyer suits you better, you can also check our Who Should You Sell Your Apricots To? article.