Why Is Dried Fruit More Expensive Than Fresh Fruit?

Grocery

This Is Why Dried Fruit Is So Much More Expensive Than Fresh By Kristen Pizzo Aug. 7, 2025 6:00 am EST

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Dried fruit is the perfect on-the-go snack. It's compact, fun to eat, and lasts a long time before going bad. For my household, a Costco trip isn't complete without a pack of dried mangoes. At around $20 a bag, this snack is one of the most expensive items in my Costco cart. Whether you like your dried fruit sugar-coated or spicy, chocolate-dipped or yogurt-covered, it feels like a luxury item. Why the hefty price tag?

Producing dried fruit requires a lot of time and labor, and it comes with expensive overhead costs. Commercial dehydrators cost tens of thousands of dollars (or more) and are expensive to oper