HORST WALBERG TROCKENFRUCHT IMPORT GMBH

Productinformation Aloe vera is cactus-like plant belonging to the lily family. Dried Aloe vera slices are produced by peeling the leaves of the Aloe vera plant and then cutting them into slices. These are then mixed with sugar water and dried with care. They are firm in consistency and have a fruity-sweet aroma. Ingredients Aloe vera, sugar, anti-oxidant: sulfur dioxide Origin Aloe vera most likely originated on the Arabian Peninsula. Today it is grown in every tropical and sub-tropical region of the world. It is primarily cultivated around the Mediterranean, in India and Thailand as well as on the Canary Islands and in Mexico. HL:

Productinformation Harvest time for apples differ from China, where it takes place around september, and Chile, where they become ripe between march and april. The fresh fruits are sorted by size, then peeled, pitted, cutted in the desired shape – quartered, loops or cubes – and finally dried. The drying process takes place in flue-curing tunnels and takes up to three to four days to fully finish. Thanks to treatment with sulfur, the bright white color of the apple remains intact - and additionally, any form of pest gets deadened. Dried apples from Italy on the other hand get treated with citric acid and sea salt instead of sulfur – so they stay much lighter in color. Origin The main countries of origin are Italy and China – in China they are still cutted manually. In addition, apple loops are produced in Chile and South Africa.

Productinformation Around april and may apricot trees are in full bloom. But during this time of year, when nights can still be very cold, it is a dangerous time for the forthcoming harvest – which is then around july and august. Apricots get shaken off of the trees by hand, and afterwards are layed down on big awnings. There the fruits will dry for three more days until they are pitted and brought to fumigation boards. Afterwards they are once more dried in the sun, which can take up to ten days - until they are dried down to an amount of moisture around fifteen percent. Origin Dried apricots originate mainly from Turkey, the Middle East and Southwest Aisa. But also in South Africa, the US (California) and Australia apricots are harvested in a large amount.

Productinformation Bananas have lots of dietary fiber, which means a feeling of repletion will start sooner than eating other fruits – good for any diet. Additionally, bananas rank among the most favorite fruits in Germany – alongside apples. Even as a crispy snack with a lot of fruit flavor, they are becoming more and more favored – not only among fans of dried fruits. Origin The banana itself historically originates from the asian part of the world. Nowadays it is domiciled all over of Africa, South America and any regions with tropical climate. The banana chips mainly are produced in Asia – the Philippines have the biggest industrial branch.

Productinformation Blueberries, also known as huckleberries, are most commonly known as tasty and blue-colored ingredients of cakes and cookies. In the US everybody knows blueberry muffin or blueberry pancakes – whereas in Europe the berry is eaten with yoghurts or as fruity jelly. There is a big difference between cultivated and wild growing berries. The cultivated ones grow on shrubs with a height of up to two meters. Their natural blue colorant is only part of their pericarp - their fruit meat looks white. Blueberries taste more sweet than sour and have a slightly wild flavor – and as dried berries, they are a heavenly blue pleasure. Origin In Europe blueberries grow in the mediterrenean area, as well as in the northern part of Europe, mainly in France, the Netherlands and Poland. Between april and may the berries are harvested, roughly at the same time in Europe as in the US – whereas in South America (Argentina and Chile), like in South Africa and New Zealand, the blueberry is harvested and exported in the other half of the year.

Productinformation Coconuts have been a popular food- and raw material source for thousands of years. On account of their delicious taste and positive traits, coconuts are becoming increasingly popular even in our part of the world. Besides valuable protein, the coconut also provides brain sustenance in the form of fructose as well as palmitic- and oleic acid. The unique characteristics of lauric acid, the main fatty acid in coconuts, have been known for many years. Today, lauric acid is used to counteract viruses, bacteria and fungus, which makes coconut chips a real fitness snack. Origin The coconut palm tree originated in Melanesia, a group of islands in the pacific, north-east of Australia. It spread in part naturally and also through humans. Coconuts can drift a long way in the ocean and remain capable of germinating even after swimming in salty water for 100 days. Polynesian seafarers are responsible for its spread to South-East Asia. The coconut palm tree thrives in the wet and warm tropical belt. Its main growing areas include the Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, South India, Africa and the coasts and rivers of South America. The tree bears fruit the entire year around and produces - depending on age and location - 30 to 150 ripe coconuts per year. Palm climbers and trained monkeys harvest the coconuts. The coconut is of great value to local people.

Productinformation Cranberries, a group of evergreen dwarf shrubs, are red berries, which are most commonly known for being fruity ingredients of cereals and cereal bars, mainly in their dried state. But they are also frequently used in warm meals and plates – as in sauces, which go with venison. The berries definitely taste a bit bitter and sourish, especially when eaten raw - just like cowberries. But in a biological sense they are not related at all. Cranberries are divided by different sorts: "Canadian dried cranberries", "American dried cranberries" and "Baker’s dried Cranberries" (also from the US). Origin The use of the cranberry dates back to the times before the discovery of America: Native american tribes knew of its diverse purpose for tasty, sweet-sour snacks. Today there still are over hundred different types of cranberries, which grow uncontrolled in several natural landscapes. Traditionally, most of them carry the name of the farmer, who selects and crops them. Growing areas can be found in the northern states of the US and Canada. In full bloom around late june and early july, the harvest time for cranberries starts in the middle of september and lasts until november.

Productinformation Dates belong to the plant family of palms – one of the oldest cultutal plants. Dates vary significantly in shape and appearance, depending on their country of origin. In North Africa it is common to allude to “nutmeg dates”, meaning tunesian "Deglet Nour" dates: They are really big and succulent. From California derives the type "Medjool". Furthermore, in arabic countries date types like "Hallowee" or "Sayer" are frequently used in industrial fruit-manufacture. Origin Dates grow in all tropic and subtropic regions. Predominantly found in the Atlas region in North Africa, they are also traded in a large amount in arabic countries.

Productinformation The dragonfruit, also called pitaya or pitahaya, originated from the South American forest cactus (hy-locereus monacanthus). Pitayas can either be red or yellow. The red pitaya has white fruit pulp with many small black pits. After harvest, the pitayas are dried in slices. A total of 90 kilos of fresh fruit are required for the production of 1 kilo of dried dragonfruit slices. The taste is reminiscent of kiwis; it is sweet but complemented by a hint of dried figs. Origin Dragonfruit are pressure-sensitive and therefore easily damaged during transport. Thailand exports this fruit by air the entire year around. Nicaragua, China, Vietnam and Israel also grow dragonfruit.

Productinformation Figs are harvested in late summer, especially in the mediterranean area. The fig trees, male and female, are pollinated through the fig wasp: Actually, the insects try to deposit their eggs on its leaves. But in the process, only the pollination is taking place - there is no harm done through any infestation by the larvae of the fig wasp. Figs remain on their trees until they are fully ripe – when they drop down, they get immediately picked up and are dried in the sun. But before the actual packaging of the dryfruit-fig they get tested under ultraviolet light - to make sure there aren’t any signs of mold. Figs are more known for ending up as delicious dried fruits because they can’t be stored untreated over a long period of time. Origin Growing areas of figs include mostly arabic countries – and Turkey. But also in Greece and in the mediterrenean region fig fruits are available on a larger level