Author: Benjamin Miller

Tagline: Dried fruit may be treated by oils and dried in facilities that give rise to kosher questions. Here is some information regarding some the kinds of fruit sold at Karma. 

Disclaimer: There are many different perspectives on the rules of kosher (or “kashrut”). The following information is based on MK kosher certification which has a convenient page on this topic. This page contains a convenient explanation of how some of the issues arise. For your own practice consult an appropriate advisor. 

Tu B’Shvat, the new year for trees in Jewish tradition, happened on the evening on January 16th. It’s traditional in many communities to eat many varieties of fruit on this night. So, naturally, at the last possible minute I was in Karma shopping for fruit. Because the new year happens at a time when there aren’t fruit ripe (but rather only beginning to grow), that means mostly only dried fruit is available. 

If you’re like me, you may wonder, “does dried fruit need an official kosher certification?” The answer, as with most things in Jewish practice, is complicated. So here’s some basic information about five types of dried fruit sold at Karma.

• Dates: Whole dates that are not glazed do not require a certification, but should be checked for bugs. Whole dates that are glazed require certification, because the oils may contain non-kosher products.
• Raisins: Raisins made for industrial baking do require certification because they are often treated with glycerin which is often derived from animal fats. Raisins made for commercial consumption typically aren’t, and so would not need certification. 
• Cherries: Certification required
• Apricots: Certification not required if there are no additives such as sweeteners
• Prunes: Certification required

Happy shopping!