The entry of the Arabs in the Iberian Peninsula entailed a resurgence when Berbers from Algiers founded the town of Algarrobo more to the interior and introduced crops such as almonds and raisins and small industries of silk.
The Phoenicians and the Egyptians popularized the production of raisins, probably due to the perfect environment for sun drying.
Since 1963 Iran is one of the major leading producer and exporters of dried fruit such as all kinds of pistachios, Sultana raisins, golden raisins, sun-dried raisins, Malayer raisins, Kashmar raisins, all kinds of Iranian dates and with its modern facilities is ready to provide its customers with all these products.
The economy of the islands was based on exporting local goods, primarily raisins, olive oil and wine, whereas Venetian lira, the currency of Venice, was also the currency of the islands.
Very exceptionally, as at Berenice, there is evidence of long distance trade in pepper, almonds, hazelnuts, stone pine cones, walnuts, coconuts, apricots and peaches besides the more expected figs, raisins and dates (Cappers).
According to ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, “wine is prepared from five things: raisins, dates, wheat, barley, or honey,” while Anas ibn Malik mentions wines made from at least four different kinds of dates.