Wichita eagle., 1888-10-03
EVAPORATED FRUIT.
GLIMPSE OF THE DRIED FRUIT IN
DUSTRY OF WESTERN NEW YORK.
The Orchards of the Farming Community
the Chief Sources of Their Wealth-E1-
tent of the Drying Business-Cost Of
Observation-Disclosures


the Chief Sources of Their wealth-E1-
tent of the Drying Business-Cost Of
Observation-Disclosures
Rochester is the recognized center Of the
evaporated and dried fruit industry Of the
United States, which during recent years has
assumed very large proportions, the goods
being shipped in large quantities TO all of the
leading markets OF the world No finer fruit
is produced on this continent than is grown
in the territory embraced under the name of
Western New York, comprising some twelve
of the most fertile and richest counties Of
the Empire state. The cultivation Of fruit,
especially apples has superseded all other
agricultural products and has proved the
most remunerative to the growers The or
chards of the farming community are the
chief sources of their wealth, and the indus
try is prosecuted with undated vigor, largely
aided by the experience, skill and resources
of the great nurseries Of Rochester, famed
throughout the world.
Thousands Of tons of apples are produced
every season from quality of fruit hereto
fore wasted and allowed to rot on the
ground, and which now forms nice income
to the grower. It is In the utilization of these
waste products that the desiccation of fruit
becomes valuable and Indispensable adjunct
70 every fruit grower, and the business may
be considered as yet III It's infancy.
EXTENT OF THE BUSINESS.
Within radius of forty miles OF Rochester
there are more than 1,5O0 evaporators, from
the small farm house drier, of a capacity of
twenty five bushels day, to the large steam
ovaporators, drying 500 to 1000 bushels Of
apples each twenty four hours. These eva
pcrators give employment during the autumn
and early winter months to at least 81, 0o0
hands, who average from 50 to SIP week,
according to experience and usefulness
New factories are erected every season, prov
ing that the business IS profitable when pro-
perry and economically conducted. Constant
care and scrupulous cleanliness are the first
elements of success il evaporatins good
fruit
The production during the season OF 1887
may be well considered the largest since the
inception of the business, some fifteen years
ago A careful estimate places the total
quantity at about &c, coo, coo pounds, worth at
first cost some 81. coo, 600 To produce this
quantity Of apples it required 5 ,0o0, 600 bush
els of apples, Il, eco tons anthracite coal, and
the constant attendance, night and day, of
an army of men, women and children, num-
bering $500 to $4,000. The water eliIni-
mated in the process of evaporation amounted
to 225, 900 tons, reducing the bulk Of the green
fruit to about one-eighth Of its original
weight, each 100 pounds yielding when prop
erly evaporated twelve pounds on an aver
age. The fruit is usually packed in cases Of
two cubit feet measurement, holding fifty
pounds net, the product Of say eight and one
half bushels Of green apples.
COST OF TRANSPORTATION.
The advantages in freight alone viii be
apparent from the following comparison,
showing the cost Of shipping one case to
Liverpool, England, which at existing
freight rates will cost ittls less than thirty
cents, while IL the green or fresh state in
barrels the same quantity would cost 81. Is,
and ip the canned state almost g. 10. without
considering the deterioration Of the green
fruit and tie dangers Of fermentation TO the
canned article. the apple in the evaporated
state being transported without any danger
OF deterioration or decay. The refuse of the
apples, such as the parings and cores, are
dried and fern the base of all the cheap jel-
lies manufactured at present. The guam
tity produced last season will aggregate some
L, 009, 900 pounds, 50 that not particle Of
the fruit is wasted
The principal consuming countries abroad
are Germany, England, Belgium, Holland
and France, in which the new product has
entirely displaced tie old fashioned sun dried
fruit There were shipped alone TO Francs
during 1857 some Is Geo barrels OK q quality
known as chopped or sliced apple, which Is
dried without being either pared or oorcd.
and is used chiefly for the production Of
cider, cheap wines and disttilation when tie
whey ards Of France suffer from tie phyilo1-
era Some Zoo. coo pounds were exported
during the season, ot which more than ono
half were shipped from Rochesser.-Brsd-
streets