The fruit is picked at it s optimum ripeness then quickly and carefully processed to preserve it s quality for you, the consumer. The process of turning fresh fruit into the finished, dehydrated product is interesting. First, the fresh, ripe fruit is hand sorted. It s important to get the apples at just the correct ripeness. They must be firm enough to peel and cut without crumbling.
Special equipment is used to reduce any bruising during movement and processing of the apples.
Before processing, the apples are thoroughly washed and rinsed. From the wash they go to the automatic peelers and coring machines. They are then cut into the different sizes for either the apple slices or apple flakes. Then it s off to the fruit dryers. The first drier is a 350 foot long gas fired drier.