EVAPORATION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 9156, 13 July 1895, Page 8

EVAPORATION OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLES.

A VALUABLE INDUSTRY.

A CHAT WITH MR R. FRY,

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Mr R. Fry, representing the New Zealand Fruit and Vegetable Evaporating Company of Auckland is now on a visit to the South. A member of the staff of the Press had a brief chat with him yesterday on tbe development of the industry in which the Company is engaged, and which promises to be a great success. As will be seen by the interview the small farmers, who are also shareholders, can get rid of their fruit, &c, which otherwise would be largely wasted. Prior to commencing to chat Mc Fry showed a handy glass case folding in two, in which were displayed samples of evaporated quinces, apples, Normandy pippins, &-.*., aud also compressed vegetables, comprising pumpkins, cabbages, carrots, parsnips, turnips, onions, cauliflowers, &c. The vegetables are compressed iv £lb cakes like a thick cake of tobacco.

" A number of our shareholders," said Mr Fry, " are small farmers, residing in the Auckland district. They send in their fruit to us to evaporate, and then we deduct the amount which is coming to them for the green fruib oub of the share money due, so thab they pay up their shares in their own produce, which otherwise would be wasted. This season we have dealt with 100 tons of apples. What is the proportion of the green fruib to be evaporated ? Well, 81b of green fruib will make lib of evaporated. It is all clean, pure fruit, without any loading of syrup whatever, though of course there are different qualities of fruit. The best quality we put up in _lb aud lib packets, covered with vegetable parchment, which keeps the fruit in fine condition. Then there are the second and third qualities of fruib, which we pub up in 251b boxes. Our fruit has made quite a name for itself in Auckland for prime quality. Our speciality, however, is the compressed vegetables. These, as yon will see, are prepared iv £lb packets, four of which we supply in tius making lib. These can either be of different varieties, such as you have just seeu in the show case, or a mixture of them for use in stews, soups, &c. This mixture is a great favourite with housewives as it is so handy and clean without any of the trouble of washing and peeling the vegetables. We supply them ready for use, and four ounces of the mixed vegetables are sufficient for ten pints of soup, being first soaked iv a pint of hot water for half an hour. For use in the bush, on stations, oa the gold fields, or on board ship these packets are invaluable. We are establishing an agency here uuder the charge of air Tait, so that the Christchurch people will have an opportunity of becoming practically acquainted with the merits of our compressed vegetables. I hope alio that we shall be represented at your forthcoming Industrial Exhibition, and that at no distant date we shall establish abrauch of the Company in Christchurch. Our factory in Auckland is supplied with ail the latest and most improved apparatus for evaporation, &.., which is carefully worked.and asyousee the process has been completely successful. VVe employ some thirty hands in the full rush of the season. The Company was formed just before last season commenced to take over the business of Lsgge and Son, which had been carried on by them for some years. The Company have improved and extended the plant, machinery, &c, and vow the concern is a most complete one, including as it does special drying rooms on a new and improved principle. I should think from what I hear of your fruit-producing capabilities here that there would be a splendid opening in Christchurch for the establishment of a branch of our evaporating and compressing business, as it would afford a profitable outlet to many small land holders for their surplus fruit and vegetables."