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Image: Provided/ Eden Orchards
An Otago juice business is examining yet another method of decreasing cherry waste – by freezing them.
Eden Orchards in Alexandra currently takes processing grade cherries from around the area and juices them.
Basic supervisor Cameron Bignell stated a report gotten ready for the Central Otago District Council about fruit loss stimulated a group of growers to come up with other options.
“About 2000 tonnes of processing grade cherries are produced each season. At the minute we take about 800 tonnes of those for juicing, so we wish to develop another service for the rest; that’s how the freezing trial happened.
A member of personnel from Eden Orchards with a tray of cherries.
Image: Provided/ Eden Orchards
The concept has actually returned from the Ministry of Primary Industries Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures Fund which has actually offered $40,000 towards the job.
“The trial is going quite well. There’s a bit to it; we have a group that takes the stem off every cherry by hand, then they go through a destoning device which takes the pip out without harming the appearance and structure of the cherry.
“Then they are frozen rapidly to keep the colour and the taste of the fruit.”
Bignell stated the trial was working out.
“We’re quite delighted with the taste and quality that we’ve got at the minute. It’s everything about screening how the various ranges go.”
If effective Eden Orchards will connect to market partners to introduce business trials next season.
“Frozen cherries might be utilized for great deals of things, in healthy smoothies, baking, you might simply consume them as they are or put them on icecream,” Bignell stated.
A few of the Eden Orchards employees.
Picture: Provided/ Eden Orchards