Quality beyond comparison

AUSTRALIAN DRIED FRUIT

PREMIUM AUSTRALIAN 5 CROWN SULTANAS, LEXIA RAISINS & SUN MUSCAT SULTANAS

Australian dried fruits are some of the best in the world. Their flavour and texture is different to Turkish fruit and is popular with our retailers and craft bakeries who need a unique product with a point of difference.

We are proud to have imported and distributed Australian dried fruits for many years and are currently the exclusive distributor for Sunbeam Foods, who are the largest packer of Australian Dried Fruits.

We are able to offer this high quality product which is justifiably famous for both its taste and appearance from our stocks here in the UK in a bulk pack. We also have the facility to repack into either a retail 375g or 500g pack, or indeed any larger catering sized bag.

Sunbeam Foods who has been established since 1926 and source their fruit from 350 growers across Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia. The factory has recently invested in state of the art machinery that is BRC accredited.

The grapes are grown along the Murray River, the largest river in Australia, in the Mildura area known as the sun drenched region. The soil is rich which is ideal for the grape vines for both wine and dried fruit. Up to four kilograms of freshly picked grapes are required to produce just one kilogram of dried fruit. No sulphur is used in the process of drying Australian grapes. Sultanas, Raisins and Sun Muscats are sprayed with an emulsion of Potassium Carbonate and a refined vegetable oil. This alters the wax layer of the skin of the berries allowing moisture to pass through the grapes so they dry faster.

Sultanas are graded in colour and in our opinion the 5 & 6 crown sultana is the most premium sultana on the market, with its attractive light amber colour, sweet flavour and juicy texture.

Australia also grows its own currants too and is an alternative to Greek currants if there became a shortage of the latter.

Our Australian dried fruit is of premium quality, plump and juicy
Ideal for artisan baking.

5 & 6 Crown Sultanas

Naturally light in colour, more juicy and fleshy than similar vine fruits. A dried fruit of exceptional quality.

Lexia Raisins

Lexia raisins are dried seeded Muscat grapes, with large sticky, sweet, caramelised tasting berries. Lexia raisins are an ideal ingredient for luxury puddings and cakes.

Sunmuscat Sultanas

Sunmuscat sultanas from the Muscat grape and have a unique sweet flavour similar to the muscat wine. The berries are lighter in colour than most traditional varieties of raisins with a fleshy plump texture.

2024 CROP UPDATE

The 2024 Dried Vine Fruit crop harvest is on track to deliver a “normal” season!

The river system, that was in flood in late 2022/early 2023, returned to normal and therivers and catchments are nearly at capacity. Irrigation allocations for growers are at 100%.

The weather pattern has returned closer to normal and while there was forecast for an El Nino (dry) weather pattern, there has been above average rain fall across all the producing regions. These rain events have delivered up to 90mm but have been infrequent. Rains on Christmas Day and the 6th January have growers very mindful of crop disease and damage. While there is a small amount of damage evident in some crops, there is no impact on crop volume or quality.

Spring/Summer hotter conditions have provided an excellent growing environment and the vines have flourished.

The season is on track and maturity of all varieties is 3-4 weeks ahead of 2023, 1 week ahead of the standard timing.

 

Carina Currants on the vine

Carina Currant is showing a good crop and are disease free. The crop is maturing, fruit is starting to colour and fruit size is developing well.

A small amount of damage has occurred but will not impact the quality or quantity available. Harvest will commence in late February/early March and yields will be similar to 2023. This is a proven performer, with consistent yields.

Sunglo Sultana on the vine

Sunglo (sultana) is showing a good crop and are disease free. Being a late maturing variety, harvest will commence in late February.

Fruit maturity is well ahead of 2023, the fruit size is developing well. The volume of Sunglo is increasing year on year and this variety is showing high and consistent yields.

Sunmuscat Sultanas on the vine

Sunmuscat is showing a good crop and are disease free.

The crop is maturing and fruit size is developing well. Harvest will commence in late February/early March and yields will be up on 2023. This is a proven performer, with high yields and consistent production.

Sugra39 Sultana on the vine

Sugra39 (sultana) is a new variety that is high yielding, matures early in the season and has sultana attributes. Most of the crop in 2023 was lost to Downy Mildew but the vines have recovered well and are showing an excellent crop.

Christmas and early January rains have not effected this variety. Harvest will commence in late January. The volume of Sugra39 is increasing year on year and this variety is showing high and consistent yields. It is becoming a preferred variety for the new vineyard expansions.

Selma Pete Sultana on the vine

Selma Pete (sultana) is showing a good crop and are disease free. This variety is early maturing and harvest will commence in late January/early February.

Fruit maturity is ahead of 2023, the fruit size is developing well. The volume of Selma Pete is increasing year on year and this variety is showing high and consistent yields. Due to the early maturity timing, this variety is becoming a preferred variety to plant.

Download the Full 2024 Australian Dried Fruit Crop Harvest Report HERE

Office & Factory

Demos Ciclitira Ltd
Park Drive Industrial Estate
Braintree
CM7 1AW

Registered Offices

Capitol House
60-62 Leman Street
London
E1 8EU

Contact

T: 01376 321272
F: 01376 552160
E: info@demos-uk.com