Do It Yourself Fruit Processing

Description

Maria Grusauskas:

Do It Yourself Fruit Processing is at the heart of The Santa Cruz Fruit Tree Project, and the community that's been growing out of it. Most harvests are followed by a gathering that teaches how to preserve the fruit they harvest—from drying persimmons using the traditional Japanese method Hoshigaki, to fermenting the fruit into wine with local DIY wine makers. They've also hosted apple cider pressing parties (with a bike-powered press, of course), made vinegar and countless preserves, from marmelades to chutnies. And when there's still too much fruit to go around, or the fruit is a little bit too "mushy" to give away, the chef of local restaurant India Joze often finds a culinary use for it.

The post-harvest events bring together growers, community members, and local food experts, and they're a birthplace for lasting relationships and useful skills promoting a sustainable culture. Schnaar's project would have fizzled out had it not been for his devotion to it, and the whole-hearted embrace it has recieved from the community." (http://www.shareable.net/blog/How-Fruit-Trees-Are-Growing-Communities)