QANTAS has outraged Sunraysia farmers by serving dried apricots from Turkey on its flights to Mildura - Australia's dried fruit capital.

Fruit growers say serving imports instead of using local fruit is contributing to the decline of the dried fruit industry.

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Victorian Farmers Federation president Andrew Broad said he was served Turkish apricots when flying to Mildura on Qantas with Agriculture Minister Joe Helper last month.

"The minister and I were discussing how we could take Mildura forward and why the hell we couldn't have a viable horticultural industry in this country," Mr Broad said.

"We were then served this small meal ... and on the packet (of apricots) it said 'Product of Turkey'."

Mr Broad said many Australians chose to fly Qantas because it was Australian.

"All we ask is whenever possible Qantas chooses to use Australian produce in its meals because of the faith customers have placed in them by flying with them," he said.

The Turkish apricots travelled at least 14,624km across the world to be served by Qantas.

A Qantas spokesman confirmed the apricots served on "that particular QantasLink route" were Turkish.

But he said the fruit was procured from Australian dried fruit supplier Angas Park, which is owned by Sunbeam.

Sunbeam chief operating officer Richard Findlay said Turkish apricots were a different style of product to Australian dried apricots, which were in short supply.

"There's just not enough apricots (grown for drying) in Australia," he said.

"It's unfortunate that a large number has to be imported.

"We'd love more Australian apricots."

Australian Dried Fruits Association chairman Mark King said cheap imports were the reason Australia's dried fruit industry had been reduced to a shadow of its former self and why local dried apricot production was now small.

Mr King backed Mr Broad's comments.

"I agree totally that wherever possible Qantas should use Australian produce," Mr King said.

"They should be supporting the local Australian industry."

Sunraysia horticultural producer Bill McClumpha said, while it was unfortunate Qantas was using cheap imported produce, at least the Turkish apricots were clearly labelled.

"Good on Andrew (Broad) for having a bit of a crack at Qantas, but at least Qantas is not trying to pull the wool over people's eyes, unlike some people," he said.

Mr Helper said he was disappointed to discover imported dried fruit was served on the Melbourne to Mildura flight.

"Victoria is renowned for its top-quality produce and I would have thought it would have had pride of place on Australian domestic flights," he said.

A Qantas spokesman said the airline spent $210 million each year with Australian suppliers on products for catering and inflight service.

"We feel that we get the balance right between strong support for Australian produce and cost-effective procurement," the spokesman said.