Apricot trees are planted all over the world, but to date, Turkey is the world's largest apricot producer according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. A grower of many warm-weather fruits, Turkey is also the leading producer of figs and cherries due to its warm climate. Visit Local Turkey says that the apricot has had its roots in Turkey for thousands of years and thrives to this day under the careful hands of Turkish farmers. Apricots are heavily grown in several regions of Turkey, but while most of these regions produce fresh fruit, Malatya-Elazığ-Erzincan is well renowned for producing 85 to 90% of the world's dried apricots (via Golden Maprix).
Turkish apricots are notably different from apricots grown in California. Cooks Illustrated says that Turkish or "Mediterranean" apricots are dried whole whereas Californian fruits are dried after being cut in half. This makes them taste plumper and moister than the American variety which tends to exhibit more of the apricot's tart characteristics.
Source: TastingTable