FRUNUT GLOBAL COMMODITIES LLC | Dried Fig Import Data USA

Updated: June 15, 2025 | Source: U.S. Customs Bill of Lading Records | Page ID: PNUM6967

FRUNUT GLOBAL COMMODITIES LLC is a U.S.-based import company specializing in dried fruit commodities, with a particular focus on dried figs sourced from Turkey. The company operates from 1610 Bathgate Avenue in the Bronx, New York 10457, strategically located within the NYC Terminal Market area that serves as the primary distribution hub for fresh and dried produce entering the New York metropolitan market. Frunut Global Commodities positions itself within the specialized niche of dried fruit importation, handling Turkish dried figs, which are among the most commercially significant dried fruit categories in international trade due to Turkey's dominant position as the world's largest producer and exporter of dried figs. The company's operations bridge the supply chain between Turkish fig producers in the Aegean region and American distributors, wholesalers, and food manufacturers who require authentic, high-quality dried figs for retail, food service, and ingredient applications.

The dried fig import sector in the United States represents a meaningful segment of the broader U.S. dried fruit import market, which is valued at approximately $500 million annually across all dried fruit categories. The United States imports approximately 15,000 to 20,000 metric tons of dried figs per year, with Turkey accounting for 60-70% of total import volume by virtue of its position as the preeminent global supplier of premium-grade dried figs, particularly the famous Smyrna (Izmir) type figs that are prized for their size, flavor, and texture characteristics. Companies like Frunut Global Commodities play an essential intermediary role in this trade, managing the logistics, quality control, regulatory compliance, and commercial relationships that connect Turkish fig exporters with American end-users. The company's location in the Bronx, adjacent to the Hunts Point Terminal Market (the world's largest wholesale food distribution center), provides direct access to the downstream distribution infrastructure that serves the New York metropolitan area's enormous food consumption market of over 20 million residents.

Company Overview: Frunut Global Commodities LLC

FRUNUT GLOBAL COMMODITIES LLC is a limited liability company registered in the United States as an importer of dried fruit products, with its principal place of business at 1610 Bathgate Avenue, Bronx, New York 10457. The company name "Frunut" appears to be a portmanteau combining "fruit" and "nut," reflecting a business orientation toward dried fruit and nut commodities that are staple products of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern trade circuits supplying the U.S. market. As an LLC (Limited Liability Company), Frunut Global Commodities operates under a business structure that provides its owners with limited personal liability exposure while allowing pass-through taxation, a common choice for import trading companies in the food and agricultural commodities sector.

The company's location at 1610 Bathgate Avenue places it within the Bronx Terminal Market area, a concentration of wholesale food distribution businesses that has historically served as the primary receiving and distribution point for perishable and semi-perishable food products entering the New York City market. Bathgate Avenue is adjacent to the more well-known Hunts Point Peninsula, where the Hunts Point Terminal Market (comprising the Hunts Point Produce Market, New York City Terminal Market, and Fulton Fish Market) operates as the largest wholesale food distribution facility in the world by volume, handling approximately 3 billion pounds of food products annually with a market value exceeding $2 billion. Frunut Global Commodities' proximity to this distribution infrastructure provides significant competitive advantages, including direct access to the buyer community of wholesale distributors, supermarket buyers, and food service operators who source products through the Terminal Market, as well as the cold storage, warehousing, and transportation services that support the market's operations.

As a dried fig importer, Frunut Global Commodities operates within a specialized segment of the U.S. food import trade that requires particular expertise in quality assessment, supplier relationship management, and regulatory compliance. Dried figs are a technically complex product to import due to the food safety risks associated with mycotoxin contamination (particularly aflatoxins and ochratoxin A), insect infestation, and moisture-related spoilage, all of which require careful supplier selection, pre-shipment quality testing, and proper storage and handling throughout the supply chain. Importers like Frunut Global Commodities must ensure that their Turkish fig suppliers adhere to the phytosanitary and food safety requirements of both the exporting country (Turkey) and the importing country (United States), including compliance with FDA regulations under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), USDA plant protection requirements, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection import procedures.

Bill of Lading Data and Shipment Details

The following bill of lading (B/L) data documents a specific dried fig import shipment made by Frunut Global Commodities LLC, sourced from U.S. customs records and public maritime data. This B/L record provides detailed insight into the company's import operations, the nature of the product imported, the supply chain routing, and the logistics arrangements used to transport dried figs from Turkey to the United States.

This bill of lading record reveals several important aspects of Frunut Global Commodities' import operations. The shipment originated from Bayindir Koyu (village), Nazilli, in the Aydin province of Turkey, which is located in the heart of the Greater Meander (Büyük Menderes) river valley in the Aegean region, one of Turkey's most important fig-growing areas. Nazilli and the surrounding Aydin province produce a significant portion of Turkey's dried fig output, particularly the Sarilop (Calimyrna) variety that is the basis for the world-famous Smyrna-type dried figs exported from the Izmir region. The shipper address at Bayindir Koyu suggests that the fig supplier is a village-level producer or packer, reflecting the decentralized structure of the Turkish dried fig supply chain where figs are grown, dried, and initially processed at the village level before being aggregated and exported through Izmir-based trading companies.

The commodity description "Whole Figs > 0.5 Kg, Dried Figs 1 x 12, 700 Gr = 12,700 Gr Pulled No: 4" provides detailed information about the product specification. The "Whole Figs" designation indicates that the figs are whole dried fruits rather than fig paste, fig pieces, or other processed fig products. The "> 0.5 Kg" classification references the U.S. HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) subheading for dried figs weighing more than 0.5 kg per package. The "Pulled No: 4" designation refers to the Turkish fig grading system, where "pulled" indicates that the figs have been manually pulled (shaped) into a uniform form, and "No: 4" is a size grade indicating medium-to-large figs. The packaging format "1 x 12, 700 Gr" likely indicates 12 units of 700-gram packages per box, totaling 8,400 grams (8.4 kg) of figs per box in retail-ready packaging, with the remaining weight in each 13.2 kg box attributable to packaging materials and the box itself.

Commodity Analysis: Dried Figs from Turkey

The dried figs imported by Frunut Global Commodities represent one of the most commercially and culturally significant dried fruit products in international trade. Turkey is the world's undisputed leader in dried fig production and export, accounting for approximately 60-70% of global dried fig trade volume and dominating the premium end of the market with its distinctive Smyrna-type figs. Turkish dried figs are prized by importers, distributors, and consumers worldwide for their exceptional size, sweet flavor, tender texture, and distinctive nutty complexity that results from the unique combination of the Aegean climate, local fig varieties, and traditional sun-drying methods that have been practiced in the region for millennia.

Turkish Fig Varieties and Grades

The Turkish dried fig industry is based primarily on the Sarilop variety (known internationally as Calimyrna or Smyrna fig), which requires caprification (pollination by the fig wasp, Blastophaga psenes) through the inedible caprifig (wild fig) to develop properly. This biological requirement, unique among commercial fig varieties, contributes to the distinctive flavor and texture of Smyrna-type figs and is one of the reasons why Turkey maintains such a strong competitive position in dried fig production, as the traditional knowledge and infrastructure for caprification are deeply embedded in the Aegean region's agricultural practices. The Sarilop variety produces large, golden-amber dried figs with a thick, chewy skin, honey-sweet interior, and complex flavor profile that includes notes of caramel, nuts, and subtle berry undertones.

Turkish dried figs are graded according to a size classification system that is critical for pricing and market segmentation. The "Pulled No: 4" grade referenced in Frunut Global Commodities' shipment represents a medium-to-large size category within this system. Turkish fig grading is based on the number of figs per kilogram, with fewer figs per kilogram indicating larger individual fruit size and higher value. The standard Turkish grading system includes:

The Pulled No: 4 grade imported by Frunut Global Commodities represents a commercially important middle tier in the Turkish fig grading system, offering good size and appearance at a competitive price point that makes the product suitable for both retail sale in bag-and-label packaging and ingredient use in bakery, confectionery, and food manufacturing applications. This grade provides the balance between visual appeal and cost-effectiveness that is important for importers serving the diverse demands of the U.S. market, where some customers require the premium appearance of larger grades for retail display while others prioritize cost competitiveness for ingredient applications where the fig will be processed further (chopped, diced, or made into paste).

HTS Classification: Dried Figs (0804.20)

Dried figs imported into the United States are classified under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) of the United States within Chapter 08 (Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruit or melons), specifically under heading 0804 (Dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried). The relevant subheading for dried figs is HTS 0804.20, which covers "Figs, fresh or dried." This classification determines the applicable customs duty rate, any quota or trade policy measures, and the statistical tracking of dried fig trade flows into the United States.

A notable feature of the U.S. tariff structure for dried figs is that the general duty rate is free (zero), meaning that dried figs from Turkey and all other source countries enter the United States without any customs duty liability. This duty-free treatment is significant for importers like Frunut Global Commodities, as it eliminates the tariff cost component from the total landed cost calculation, making the import decision dependent solely on the product purchase price, ocean freight, insurance, port charges, and domestic distribution costs. The duty-free status of dried figs reflects their classification as an agricultural commodity that is not produced in sufficient quantities domestically to require tariff protection, as U.S. domestic fig production (concentrated in California) represents only a small fraction of total U.S. fig consumption.

While the tariff rate is zero, dried fig imports are still subject to other regulatory requirements that impose compliance costs on importers. These include FDA Prior Notice requirements under the Bioterrorism Act and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which mandate that importers provide advance notification to the FDA of any food shipment arriving at a U.S. port. The FSMA Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) requires importers to verify that their foreign suppliers produce food in compliance with U.S. safety standards, effectively shifting food safety oversight responsibility to the importer. Additionally, USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) may require phytosanitary certificates for dried fig imports to verify that the product is free from quarantine pests and diseases, and the product must comply with FDA food labeling requirements under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act if it is sold in retail packaging.

Turkey's Dried Fig Industry and Aegean Region

Turkey's dried fig industry is one of the country's most important agricultural export sectors, with annual production typically ranging between 70,000 and 90,000 metric tons and export volumes of approximately 50,000 to 70,000 metric tons, generating export revenues of $150-250 million depending on annual production levels and market prices. The industry is concentrated in the Aegean region of western Turkey, specifically in the provinces of Aydin (which includes the Nazilli district where Frunut Global Commodities' shipper is located), Izmir, and Manisa, where the Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters provides ideal conditions for fig cultivation and natural sun-drying.

Aydin province is the single most important fig-producing region in Turkey, accounting for approximately 60-65% of national dried fig production. The province's fig orchards are concentrated in the Büyük Menderes (Greater Meander) river valley and its tributaries, where the alluvial soils, abundant irrigation water from the Menderes river system, and the long, hot summer season create optimal growing conditions for the Sarilop fig variety. The Nazilli district, specifically referenced in Frunut Global Commodities' B/L data as the shipper location, is a major fig processing and packing center within Aydin province, hosting numerous fig processing facilities that receive dried figs from surrounding villages (such as Bayindir Koyu) for sorting, grading, packaging, and export shipment through the Port of Izmir.

The Turkish dried fig supply chain operates through a multi-tier structure that begins with smallholder farmers who cultivate fig orchards, often as part of diversified small farms that also produce olives, grapes, and field crops. After harvest in August and September, the figs are sun-dried on drying trays or tarps in the orchards for 5-8 days until the moisture content is reduced to approximately 20-25%, suitable for storage and export. The dried figs are+ are then collected by village-level traders or delivered to processing facilities, where they undergo washing, sorting by size and quality, "pulling" (manual shaping of the figs into a uniform rounded form for the higher grades), and packaging into retail or bulk packaging formats. The processing and packing operations, many of which are located in Nazilli and the surrounding Aydin districts, employ significant seasonal labor forces and represent a major economic activity in the region during the post-harvest period from September through January.

Turkey's dried fig exports are regulated by the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and subject to quality standards under the Turkish Food Codex and the relevant commodity standards. Export-grade dried figs must meet maximum residue limits for pesticides, mycotoxin limits (particularly for aflatoxins, which are a significant food safety concern in dried figs due to the potential for Aspergillus flavus mold growth during the drying process), and microbiological criteria. The European Union, which is Turkey's largest dried fig export market, imposes particularly stringent aflatoxin limits (maximum 4 ppb for aflatoxin B1 and 10 ppb for total aflatoxins), and compliance with these limits is a critical quality management priority for Turkish fig exporters. The United States also monitors aflatoxin levels in imported dried figs through FDA surveillance programs, though the specific limits and testing protocols differ from EU requirements.

U.S. Dried Fig Import Market

The United States is a significant importer of dried figs, with annual import volumes typically ranging between 15,000 and 20,000 metric tons and import values of $40-60 million, depending on crop conditions in Turkey, global supply-demand balances, and price levels. The U.S. dried fig import market is characterized by Turkey's overwhelming dominance as the source country, with Turkish-origin figs consistently accounting for 60-70% of total U.S. import volume, followed by Greece, California (domestic production), and smaller contributions from Spain, Syria, and other Mediterranean producers.

The U.S. dried fig market can be segmented into three primary end-use categories, each with distinct quality requirements, price points, and distribution channels. The retail segment encompasses bagged and packaged dried figs sold through supermarket produce sections, specialty food stores, ethnic grocery markets, and increasingly through online channels. This segment demands the highest visual quality (large size, uniform shape, attractive color, absence of defects), appropriate packaging for retail display (transparent bags, gift boxes, clamshell containers), and brand positioning that communicates quality, authenticity, and origin. The food service segment includes dried figs used in restaurant kitchens, catering operations, and institutional food service, where the figs may be featured in appetizers, salads, main courses, and desserts at Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and New American restaurants. The ingredient/industrial segment encompasses dried figs used as inputs for food manufacturing, including fig paste for Fig Newtons and similar cookie products, diced figs for trail mixes and granola, and fig puree for energy bars and health food products. This segment prioritizes cost efficiency over visual appearance and often purchases lower fig grades and industrial-grade fig paste.

Several factors drive demand for imported dried figs in the U.S. market. The growing consumer interest in Mediterranean diet principles, which emphasize plant-based foods including dried fruits, has expanded the addressable market for dried figs beyond traditional ethnic and specialty segments. The increasing awareness of the nutritional benefits of dried figs, which are rich in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium, iron, and natural antioxidants, has positioned dried figs as a healthful snack alternative in the better-for-you snacking category that is experiencing strong growth in the U.S. food market. The rising popularity of charcuterie boards and cheese plates in American dining and entertaining culture has also increased demand for premium dried figs as a complementary accompaniment to artisanal cheeses and cured meats. These demand drivers, combined with the duty-free tariff treatment for dried figs, create favorable market conditions for importers like Frunut Global Commodities who can source quality Turkish figs at competitive prices and distribute them efficiently through established commercial channels.

NYC Terminal Market and Bronx Distribution Hub

Frunut Global Commodities' location at 1610 Bathgate Avenue in the Bronx places the company at the epicenter of the New York City wholesale food distribution system, which is the largest in the United States and one of the most important in the world. The Bronx Terminal Market area, encompassing the Hunts Point Peninsula and the surrounding wholesale food district, serves as the primary point of entry and distribution for food products reaching the New York metropolitan area's population of over 20 million consumers, making it a strategically critical location for a dried fruit import company.

The Hunts Point Terminal Market, located approximately 2 miles south of Bathgate Avenue, is the world's largest wholesale food distribution center by volume, handling approximately 3 billion pounds of food products annually with a combined market value exceeding $2 billion. The market comprises three major divisions: the Hunts Point Produce Market (the largest wholesale produce market in the world, with over 40 wholesale tenants), the New York City Terminal Market (handling a broader range of food products including dried fruits, nuts, and specialty foods), and the Fulton Fish Market (recently relocated to the Bronx from Manhattan). The market operates 24 hours per day, 6 days per week, with receiving operations beginning at midnight and distribution activities continuing through the afternoon as trucks deliver products to retail and food service customers throughout the metropolitan area.

For Frunut Global Commodities, proximity to the Terminal Market provides several competitive advantages. The concentration of wholesale food buyers at the market creates a ready customer base of produce wholesalers, supermarket buyers, and food service distributors who purchase dried fruits and nuts as part of their product assortments. The market's cold storage infrastructure, including both public and private cold storage warehouses, provides the temperature-controlled storage capacity essential for maintaining dried fig quality (particularly moisture content and freedom from insect infestation) during the period between port arrival and distribution to downstream customers. The transportation infrastructure serving the market, including direct highway access to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95), Bruckner Expressway (I-278), and Sheridan Expressway, enables efficient trucking distribution to customers throughout the New York metropolitan area, the Northeast corridor, and beyond. The market's proximity to the Port of New York and New Jersey, the largest port on the U.S. East Coast by container volume, reduces drayage costs and transit times for imported dried figs arriving by ocean container.

Shipping Route: Izmir to New York

The shipping route for Frunut Global Commodities' dried fig import follows the classic Mediterranean-to-East Coast trade lane, from the Port of Izmir in western Turkey through the Mediterranean Sea, Strait of Gibraltar, Atlantic Ocean, and into the Port of New York and New Jersey. This route is well-established for Turkish agricultural exports to the United States, with regular container shipping services connecting the Turkish Mediterranean ports (Izmir, Mersin, Istanbul/Ambarli) to the major U.S. East Coast ports (New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Baltimore, Philadelphia).

The specific logistics details of Frunut Global Commodities' documented shipment are notable for several reasons. The carrier, SBB INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING LLC, is a Turkish-owned shipping line that specializes in the Turkey-Mediterranean-Black Sea trade routes. SBB (which stands for Samsun-Based Broker or a similar Turkish shipping reference) operates a fleet of multipurpose and container vessels serving the Turkey-to-world trade lanes, providing a direct shipping option for Turkish exporters who prefer to work with carriers that have expertise in Turkish port operations and documentation requirements. The vessel MUSTAFA DAYI is likely a multipurpose or general cargo vessel in the SBB fleet, named following the Turkish tradition of naming vessels after persons (Mustafa Dayi being a common Turkish name).

The container number GLDU2238344 follows the standard international container identification format, with the owner prefix "GLDU" likely indicating a leasing company or container pool rather than SBB's own container fleet, which is common practice for smaller shipping lines that lease containers rather than maintaining their own container inventory. The B/L number SBBN12EXIZM0299 encodes routing information: "SBB" indicates the issuing carrier, "N12" likely references the year (2012), "EX" may indicate an export shipment, "IZM" confirms the Port of Izmir as the loading port, and "0299" is the sequential shipment number. The Master B/L TRKUALINYC503481 further encodes the routing: "TR" for Turkey, "KUA" possibly referencing a specific terminal or shipping service, "LIN" for the liner service, "NYC" for New York City as the destination, and "503481" as the master shipment identifier.

Transit time for the Izmir to New York route typically ranges from 18 to 28 days depending on the specific vessel routing, transshipment requirements, and port congestion. Direct services without transshipment offer the fastest transit, while services that transship through Mediterranean hub ports (such as Piraeus, Greece or Malta) may add 3-7 days to the transit time but offer more frequent sailings and potentially lower freight rates. For dried figs, which do not require temperature-controlled (refrigerated) containers, the shipping cost is determined by the standard dry container freight rate, which varies based on market conditions, carrier, and service level. Dried figs must however be protected from moisture damage during transit, requiring proper container condition (watertight doors and roof), and may benefit from the use of container liner bags or moisture-absorbing desiccants to prevent condensation-related quality deterioration during the temperature fluctuations that occur during ocean transit.

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