﻿58 BULLETIN 1141, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



init the work of packing to be done inside it and to allow the stor- 

 ing of the packed boxes until the fruit is finally sold, it will be highly 

 advantageous, as much of the insect infestation of dried fruits is 

 due to exposure of the boxes after they have been packed. 



PREPARING EVAPORATED FRUITS FOR MARKET. 



While the packing of dried fruits for the trade is conducted 

 largely as a business which is distinct from evaporating or drying 

 and a large proportion of the product passes out of the hands of 

 the operator before it is packed for shipment, it should help the one 

 who makes the product to know in a general way how it is handled 

 by the packer. Some of the methods in use are here briefly de- 

 scribed. 



PACKING EVAPORATED APPLES. 



GRADING. 



In handling evaporated apples, three grades are generally recog- 

 nized, which are commonly designated as "fancy," "choice," and 

 " prime." Two other grades, which in reality are special grades, are 

 also sometimes recognized, viz, " extra fancy," and a lower grade 

 than prime — usually called prime with some distinguishing prefix, 

 frequently the name of a locality. 



The standards demanded for these various grades are about as 

 follows : 



" Fancy " is a very white, clean stock, free from all pieces of skin and 

 other objectionable portions which should be removed in trimming, and with 

 a good proportion of the slices in rings. 



"Choice" denotes a grade intermediate between "fancy" and "prime," 

 not quite clean enough for " fancy," yet more nearly free from imperfections 

 than the " prime " grade demands. 



"Prime" must be a good stock, well cured, and of a generally attractive 

 appearance. It must be comparatively white and mostly free from undesir- 

 able portions, but stock having a small percentage of such defects is usually 

 put in this grade. 



" Extra fancy." as the name implies, is a fancy grade that is exceptionally 

 fine. It must possess all the qualities mentioned in describing that grade in 

 a marked degree. At least 85 per cent of the slices should be rings. 



So-called "facing stock" is obtained by selecting perfect rings of large size 

 and perfect color from extra-fancy stock. 



The grade below "prime" is the stock that has been so carelessly handled 

 and is so unattractive in appearance that it can not maintain the standard of 

 " prime." It is packed for an entirely different and much poorer class of 

 trade than any of the other grades. 



METHODS OF PACKING. 



Evaporated apples are in suitable condition to pack when they 

 have passed through the curing period and the individual pieces 

 have all acquired a uniform degree of moisture. 



The package largely used in marketing evaporated applies is a 

 wooden box which holds 50 pounds of fruit when the contents are 

 firmly pressed into it. Pasteboard cartons, holding 1 pound, or 

 half a kilo (1.1 pounds) for certain export trade, are also more or 

 less used. 



In packing, the side of the box intended for the top or face is 

 packed first, as in packing fresh fruit in boxes or barrels. The first 



