it takes 7 pounds of choice fruits to make one pound of fancy dried fruit. That is why the peaches, pears, and nectarines are expensive. The raisins we use are a very special variety that are larger and blacker and have a very sweet and soft taste. They are very popular. Banana slices, pineapple, and papaya are all run through a sugar process that preserves them and helps them stay for long periods. The apricots are given a sulfur dioxide treatment to keep the color and allow long life..