Selling Dried Fruit on Amazon: Exporting to the U.S. and the FDA Guide

Dried Fruit Sales on Amazon: A Real Export Story from Turkey to the U.S.

Sales of dried fruit on Amazon have been one of the topics we’ve heard most about from Turkish producers over the past few years. The reason is clear: The freeze-dried snack aisle in the U.S. is growing rapidly, but it’s also crowded. Established brands like Crispy Green—and even giants like Hershey—have entered this category. So this isn’t a market you can just jump into by thinking, “My product is great—I’ll put it out there and it’ll sell”; in addition to a good product, you need the right strategy.

On the other hand, the outlook is promising. The U.S. dried food market exceeded $1.3 billion in 2025 and is growing at an annual rate of around 8%; the snack segment is the fastest-growing part of this market, and fruit alone accounts for approximately 30% of the category. Sugar-free, single-ingredient, and vegan—the three features American consumers are looking for are already inherent in freeze-dried fruit. Given Turkey’s fruit quality and processing infrastructure, we believe it’s entirely possible for a well-established brand to find a place on these shelves.

In this article, we’ll focus more on practical aspects than theory. We’ll walk you through, step by step, what we did during the process of moving a freeze-dried fruit production line—for a manufacturer we consult with—to Amazon U.S., where we paused to reflect, and what insights we gained from this case.

Why Amazon? Why the U.S.?

The traditional approach to exporting food to the U.S. is to find a distributor; however, negotiations with distributors take a long time, a significant portion of the margin goes to the middleman, and your brand often remains invisible. Selling food on Amazon in the U.S., on the other hand, gives producers the opportunity to launch under their own brand, at their own price, and by engaging directly with consumers. You can test the market with small batches, see which flavors are popular based on sales data, and use that data to approach distributors from a much stronger position.

Dried fruit has another advantage on Amazon: it’s not a “gated” category, such as pet food or dietary supplements. In other words, if you’ve set up your FDA compliance correctly, the path to listing is relatively clear. This is an important ranking tip for manufacturers with multiple product lines under one roof; we’ll come back to this in the findings shortly.

Case Study: A Turkish Manufacturer’s Journey on Amazon U.S.

One of the manufacturers we advise decided to move its freeze-dried fruit product line to Amazon U.S. under the umbrella of a U.S. LLC. The product range spanned from single-serve packages to multi-pack formats; the goal was to establish a clean-label brand that would fit into the daily snacking routine of U.S. consumers.

The process unfolded in five stages. Let’s explain what was done in each stage and why it was done in that order.

1. U.S. Companies and EINs: Boring but Essential Basics

The first step is always the same: forming a U.S. LLC and obtaining an EIN from the IRS. We know it’s not the most exciting part. But the Amazon seller account, U.S. bank account, payment infrastructure, and trademark application—they all build on this foundation. In our case, since the LLC and EIN were finalized early on, we didn’t experience any “waiting for paperwork” delays in any of the subsequent steps.

2. Brand: Opening the Brand Registry Early

The equivalent of visibility on the snacks shelf on Amazon is Brand Registry: A+ content, brand store, video, tools to protect against counterfeits... all of these are enabled through this program. To qualify for Brand Registry, you need a trademark that is either registered or pending in the U.S.

In our case, the manufacturer filed a Class 29 (freeze-dried fruits) application with the USPTO for the fruit brand before the product was shipped to the U.S. This early move ensures that Brand Registry is ready on launch day and that brand awareness begins to be built from day one. For more details, please see our guide to Trademark Registration in the U.S. and our guide to Amazon Brand Registry.

3. FDA: The Main Gateway for Food Exports to the U.S.

No matter how great an Amazon listing may be, it’s meaningless if the product can’t clear U.S. customs. When exporting food to the U.S., dried fruit is classified as conventional food by the FDA, and the following requirements apply:

• Food Facility Registration + U.S. Agent: The production facility in Turkey must be registered with the FDA and must appoint a U.S. agent. Without registration, the product cannot enter the U.S.
• Prior Notice: Electronic prior notice to the FDA and customs before each shipment.
• FSVP: For U.S. food imports, the importer is expected to have a supplier verification plan (FSVP) in place. This obligation falls on the importer, not the producer; if you are importing through your own LLC, it applies to you, and if a U.S. buyer is importing the product, it applies to them.
• Content compliance: For single-ingredient fruits, this aspect is generally straightforward; however, if flavorings, coatings, or blends are added, each component must be acceptable under FDA regulations.

In our case, there was one fact that made our job easier: fruit is a plant-based product. The issue of USDA/APHIS permits and health certificates, which comes into play with meat-based products, did not arise here at all. For practical steps regarding the FDA, we recommend our FDA Registration and Certification Guide and the FDA Labeling and Customs Advisory Guide.

4. Label: Retail Unit Question

There’s one question every manufacturer selling multipacks must answer right from the start: Which package do FDA labeling rules apply to? Answer: the retail unit purchased by the consumer. If the item added to the cart on Amazon is a box, all required elements must appear on the box: product identification, net quantity (grams + ounces), ingredients list, allergen statement, Nutrition Facts in the current format (including the “added sugars” line), manufacturer/distributor information, and country of origin (“Product of Türkiye”). Individual packages inside the box can have simpler labeling as long as they’re sold only within the box; however, if you ever list an individual package separately, that package must be fully compliant on its own. The entire label must be in English. Clarifying this issue before starting the box design eliminates the cost of post-printing revisions.

5. Amazon Listing and Launch: Where the Real Game Begins

Once the regulatory foundation is properly established, the listing process moves quickly from a technical standpoint; however, listing a product doesn’t mean it will sell. Standing out on a crowded snack shelf requires the right launch strategy, PPC ad management, and efforts to boost organic visibility. Practical considerations we keep in mind for Amazon FBA food shipments:

• The lot number and expiration date must be clearly legible on the packaging; FBA warehouses do not accept food items without an expiration date.
• The packaging is original and sealed; the crush-resistant box design directly affects the return rate
• Avoid making unsubstantiated health claims in your product listing; phrases like “boosts immunity” can cause problems with both the FDA and Amazon
• If Brand Registry is enabled, boost conversions with A+ content and a comparison table

Our Amazon Private Label Starter Guide is a great place to start for your overall launch and listing strategy.

6. Amazon Search Terms: How Do Customers Find You?

Sales on Amazon start with the search bar. American consumers don’t search for “dried fruit”; instead, they search using their own language and in the context of their own usage—for example, “freeze-dried strawberries,” “healthy snacks for kids,” “no sugar added fruit snacks,” or “smoothie toppings.” Thinking in Turkish and translating word for word is one of the most common mistakes we see.

The practical approach we follow in our search term analysis is as follows:

• Competitor analysis: Use tools like Helium 10 or Jungle Scout to identify which keywords are driving traffic to top-selling ASINs in the category
• Discovery through automated campaigns: Launch an automated PPC campaign at launch to see which search terms Amazon matches the product to; then move the terms that drive conversions to a manual campaign
• Listing placement: Place primary keywords in the title and secondary keywords in the bullet points and backend search terms fields; without turning the title into a jumble of words
• Negative keywords: Cut costs from irrelevant search clicks early on

This cycle isn't a one-time event; as search term data accumulates over the first 8–12 weeks, the listing and ad structure are refined together.

7. Concepts That Stand Out on a Crowded Shelf

With freeze-dried fruit, the product itself is easy to imitate; the difference lies in the concept and positioning. Approaches we’ve observed that have resonated in the U.S. market:

• Positioning based on usage: The same product can be marketed to completely different audiences as a “lunchbox snack,” “office snack,” or “post-workout snack”; product listings and visuals are tailored accordingly
• Variety pack: Offering customers the chance to try different fruits in a single package not only makes it easier for them to decide on their first order but also increases the cart value
• Topping concept: Positioning it as a complement to smoothies, yogurt, and granola rather than as a snack opens the door to a different kind of search traffic
• Focus on children and families: The fact that the product is sugar-free and contains a single ingredient resonates strongly with parents; the packaging language is being simplified accordingly
• Gifts and seasonal items: During periods such as back-to-school and the holiday season, themed packages can add seasonal appeal to ordinary products

The choice of concept is not arbitrary; the decision is made by evaluating search volume data, competitor density, and the manufacturer’s actual production flexibility together.

Roadmap — At a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do you need FDA approval to sell dried fruit on Amazon?

The FDA does not approve individual products; however, requirements such as facility registration, a U.S. Agent, prior notice, and FSVP still apply. Once these requirements are met, dried fruit enters the U.S. as a conventional food product.

Is "dried fruit" a gated category on Amazon?

No. Unlike pet food or dietary supplements, dried fruit snacks intended for human consumption are generally not subject to a pre-approval process. This is one of the factors that speeds up their launch.

Should the multipack box also have a label in the U.S. format?

Yes. If the consumer purchases the box itself, all required information must appear on the box. The inner packages may be simpler if they are sold only inside the box.

Is USDA approval required?

Since dried fruit is of plant origin, the USDA/APHIS regulations do not apply; these requirements are for animal products.

Can the label be in Turkish?

No. The entire label must be in English and must include all required elements.

5 Findings from This Case

As a team that has gone through the process from start to finish, here are the insights we’ve gleaned from our experience for producers preparing to embark on a similar journey:

• 1. The sequence is a strategy. The order—LLC → brand → FDA → label → Amazon—is not arbitrary; each step is a prerequisite for the next. Manufacturers who disrupt this sequence often get stuck in a cycle where “the product is ready but is waiting for an account or documentation.”
• 2. Plant-based products may be the fastest route to market. If there are multiple product lines under the same umbrella, launching with a fruit line that does not require USDA certification and is not subject to regulatory restrictions allows you to jumpstart the business and collect sales data while simultaneously preparing the more heavily regulated product lines.
• 3. The issue of retail units on the label must be resolved before printing. In multi-pack configurations, if the question “Which package contains the required items?” is not answered during the design phase, post-printing revision costs are inevitable.
• 4. Search term research should begin before the launch. Listings that aren’t optimized using the actual search language of American consumers (such as “freeze-dried strawberries” or “healthy snacks for kids”) will render even the best products invisible. Submitting a brand application early also ensures that Brand Registry is active on launch day.
• 5. Listing a product isn’t the same as selling it. Once the regulatory process is complete and the product hits the shelf, the real game begins: the right concept, a listing optimized with the right search terms, PPC ad management, efforts to boost organic visibility, social media traffic, and a SEO-focused website that drives demand from outside Amazon. Standing out on a crowded shelf comes down to the work done on this end; we support our manufacturers in each of these areas.

If you’re planning to enter the U.S. market with dried fruit or another food product, Export Partners is here to support you every step of the way through the FDA registration and certification processes, as well as the trademark registration process in the U.S.

Related guides: Selling Dietary Supplements on Amazon in the U.S. and the FDA Compliance Process · Selling Dietary Supplements in the U.S.