Buzz
Since their debut in 1983 by General Mills, Fruit Roll-Ups have been a beloved sugary snack for children. However, as Gabriella Gershenson of Thrillist uncovered, the story of these fruity sheets stretches back to the early 1900s, long before they became a supermarket staple.
In the early 1900s, Syrian immigrants in New York City introduced a unique apricot-based treat called amardeen. George Shalhoub, a local grocer, imported thick sheets of apricot paste from Syria. Customers would request pieces of this chewy “fruit leather,” which earned its name due to its tough, hide-like texture.
Shalhoub’s business moved to Brooklyn in the 1940s, but the fruit sheets remained popular. His grandson, Louis, began selling pre-packaged dried apricot snacks, leading to the establishment of Joray, the first company to commercialize fruit roll-ups in 1960. After a trade publication highlighted their process in the 1970s, other brands like Sunkist entered the market. However, General Mills’ aggressive marketing campaign cemented Fruit Roll-Ups as the iconic snack we know today.
Joray continues to operate today, producing kosher-certified fruit roll-ups that emphasize a higher fruit content compared to the more industrialized alternatives. Despite their differences, both Joray and other brands share a key similarity: they wisely avoid labeling their products as “fruit leather.”
