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.

Australian Dried Fruit Crop Update 2026

A Season Dramatically Impacted by Extreme Weather

The 2026 Australian dried fruit season has taken an unexpected and challenging turn following an unprecedented weather event across key growing regions.

Earlier reports published in January and February indicated a positive outlook for the 2026 crop. A later spring bud burst combined with cooler conditions resulted in steady crop development, good berry sizing, and low disease pressure. Growers also benefited from strong irrigation management, and early projections suggested the 2026 dried vine fruit crop would increase by approximately 10% compared with 2025.

Sultanas, Sunmuscats and Currants were all forecast to deliver good quality fruit, with harvest timings expected to commence from mid-February through early March.

However, conditions changed dramatically in early March.

Once-in-a-Generation Rain Event

Heavy downpours across the Mildura growing region delivered more than 300mm of rain in just one week, effectively more than a year’s worth of rainfall in a matter of days. This once-in-a-generation weather event has caused significant disruption and damage across multiple crops.

Rain events at this stage of the season are particularly damaging for dried vine fruits, where fruit maturity and drying conditions are critical. Early March rainfall in Mildura is especially problematic, impacting fruit quality, drying capability, and overall yields.

Early reports suggest crop damage of up to 28%, with particularly severe consequences for lighter coloured varieties. Industry feedback indicates that light sultanas may be extremely limited or potentially unavailable this season.

2026 Season dramatically impacted by extreme weather

Impact Across All Tree Nut & Dried Fruit Categories

The impact is not limited to dried vine fruit alone. The excessive rainfall is expected to affect:

  • Dried Vine Fruits (Sultanas, Sunmuscats, Currants)
  • Almonds
  • Pistachios
  • Other dried fruit categories

Quality concerns, reduced yields, and processing challenges are expected across the board.

What This Means for 2026 Supply

While the season originally showed strong potential, the March weather event has significantly altered supply expectations:
–

  • Reduced overall crop volumes
  • Limited availability of premium and light-coloured sultanas
  • Potential quality variations across all categories
  • Increased pressure on supply throughout 2026

Looking Ahead

The full extent of the damage is still being assessed, but it is clear that the 2026 Australian dried fruit crop will be materially impacted. As harvest and processing continue, further updates will be provided as more accurate information becomes available.

At Demos Ciclitira, we are working closely with growers and processors to monitor developments and manage supply continuity for our customers.

We will continue to keep you informed as the season progresses.

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