Apricots: Jewels from the Baronnies

The Baronnies Provençales, where Proscien is based, supplies about 10% of the apricots in France, one of the top apricot producers in Europe. Baronnies apricots are known for their distinct taste, born from the emblematic garrigue of this medium mountain environment. The steep reliefs of the apricot plots make the cultivation more complex than it is elsewhere, and this adversity produces the superior quality of the Baronnies apricots. Blushy skin, rich in beta-carotene, and high fructose content are their hallmark characteristics.

The Baronnies producers chose specific apricot varieties based on their gustatory qualities, sensory attractiveness, and adaptation to the local soil conditions. There are about 300 local producers in the Baronnies; they have implemented sophisticated production systems with an emphasis on preserving water resources and biodiversity. The producers have also taken action in the orchards of the Baronnies to protect the bees—the precious allies of biodiversity. Mason bees, who are famously efficient pollinators, are favored residents of the Baronnies apricot orchards.

Apricots can be consumed fresh, dried, or processed in the form of canned apricots, jams, juices, or liquors. About 10% of the local production is consumed fresh while the rest is processed through washing, sorting, selecting, drying, cutting, and packaging. These processes generate large amounts of residues, the majority of which are stones containing the shells and kernels. Proscien has researched the different byproducts generated during apricot processing and has focused on utilizing the kernels and fruit pomace to create cosmetic ingredients based on these agricultural waste streams.

ProDermis® APT is a water-soluble emollient derived from the Baronnies apricot kernel oil. Apricot kernel oil is lauded for its beneficial effects on skin, hair, and general human health. ProDermis® APT brings these benefits to various cosmetic applications by enabling its water compatibility.

The Baronnies apricot kernel oils consist of high concentrations of unsaturated fatty acids and low concentrations of saturated fatty acids. The main fatty acids in our apricot kernel oil are oleic acid (C18:1), followed by linoleic acid (C18:2), and palmitic acid (C16:0). Detailed fatty acid distributions in apricot kernel oil depend on the apricot species variety and farming conditions, such as the soil properties, the climate, and the harvest environment. Processing conditions also influence its composition.

There are eight essential vitamers that are lipid-soluble molecules in the unsaponifiable lipid fraction of the apricot kernel oils; these molecules are essential because they cannot be synthesized by the human body. The health benefits of these vitamers have been widely studied, as they protect lipids and other membrane components against oxidative damage. Apricot kernel oil is also rich in phytosterols, carotenoids, and polyphenol antioxidants.

Various byproducts are generated when apricots are processed in the food industry to produce juices, drinks, and beverages. The main byproduct, known as pomace, is primarily composed of skin and pulp. As such, pomace contains a significant portion of the bioactive compounds, the most prevalent of which are polyphenols, and the collection of more than 100 molecules which are responsible for the apricots’ aromas. We have developed ProSenteur® Apricot using pomace extracts collected at processing facilities of the Baronnies apricots. ProSenteur® Apricot delivers both the antioxidizing power and unique aromas of the Baronnies in a skin-pleasant format.