Apricot

Terumot and ma’aserot (offerings and tithes): The apricot is a relatively small fruit, so if one picks a single fruit in a garden and eats it, there is no need to separate tithes, even if the fruit is cut in half to remove the pit.

Kilei ilan (grafting mixed species): The apricot is a plant from the Rosaceae family and can be grafted onto a wide range of rootstocks from this family, such as peach-almond hybrids. To avoid the prohibition of kilayim, one should plant only trees grafted onto permitted rootstocks (such as the Raanana rootstock).

Infestation: Apricot trees are commonly planted in private gardens and the fruits are often highly infested with insects (especially fruit fly larvae). The fruit should be inspected carefully before consumption. Furthermore, when apricots are dried outdoors, they need to be checked for insects.

Blessing: Apricot harvest season is short, and the fruit has a short shelf-life. However, the fruit can be pureed, dried, and compressed into strips, which preserves it for a longer period. This method of preservation is called leather or dried apricot. The posekim have discussed what blessing is appropriate for this product, as the blessing for a fruit that has completely lost its form and is unrecognizable is shehakol. However, since it is still the fruit itself with no additions, it might be appropriate to say borei peri ha’etz.

Shehechiyanu (blessing for new fruit): Yes. Since apricots are summer fruit, unavailable at other times of year, it is considered a seasonal fruit.