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It is supposed that the
homeland of apricot is the wide area covering Turkistan, Middle Asia
and West China. Apricot was well known 5000-years back around this
region. It was brought to Anatolia in IV. Century BC, during the voyages
of Alexander the Great, thus Anatolia became the second homeland for
apricot.During the Roman and Persian Wars in 1st century BC, it was
brought first to Italy, and then to Greece. It had taken a long time
to spread to the other European countries from Italy and Greece; it
was brought to Spain and England in 13th century and to France and
America in17th century.In spite of its widespread distribution almost
all around the world, it is mostly grown in Mediterranean countries,
Europe, Middle Asia, America, and African continents.
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| Turkey is the
biggest fresh apricot producer in the world. The following apricot
producers are Spain, Italy, USA, Iran, France, and Greece. These countries'
fresh apricot production is over 100.000 ton annually. Morocco, Pakistan,
Syria, China, South America, Hungary, former Yugoslavia, Romania,
Australia are the other countries with apricot production.There are
mainly 6 apricot growing regions in Turkey. Turkey generates approximately
10-15% of world's total fresh apricot productionThe production of
apricot in regions out of Malatya, Elazığ, and Erzican are for dining-consumptions
only.The best quality comes from
Malatya city of Turkey, because of its unique ecological and soil
endowments. Darende, Hekimhan, Akçadağ and Center Province are the
primary apricot production towns in Malatya. The apricots grown in
Malatya are proved to be best quality apricot in the world with its
unique taste and aroma.The apricots grown
in Malatya, -Turkey, are being dried and this region supply 65-80%
of worlds total dried apricot. |
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