View source for Apple-value-addition

<div>
 <div class="title"><h3>8.40-Apple Value Addition</h3><br><h3 class="ch-owner">Emily Skale , University of Guelph, Canada </h3></div>
<div class="hero-img-2">
[[File:4.jpg|300px]]
<p>Suggested citation for this chapter.</p>
<p>Skale,E. (2022) Apple Value Addition,In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org</p>
       <h3 class="title-bg">Introduction</h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
          <P>Apples trees originated in Kazakhstan in the Tien Shan mountains about ten to twenty million years ago (Synan, 2013). For tens of thousands of years apples have been part of the human diet (Synan, 2013). In China, apples are the most important cash crop, and a smallholder farmer’s major source of income (Wang, Wolf, Zhang, 2016). Improvements are needed to help smallholders utilize excess product so that it can provide income during off season months, prevent postharvest losses, and prevent food shortages (Wanyama, 2016). This chapter will therefore evaluate post-harvest value addition ideas for apples grown by smallholder farmers:</p> 
</div>
   </div>
 <div style="margin-top: 30px;">
       <h3 class="title-bg">Apple Juice and Apple Cider Production </h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
<p>Apple juice and cider are great ways of using up apples when there is excess in the market and the process only requires a few simple materials. Due to relative global changes, heightened supplies of apple juice concentrate have led to a decrease in apple prices at the farm-level (Schmit, 2018). This is in part because it has a longer shelf life and prices can be significantly influenced with increasing inventories therefore, more supplies are causing greater pressure for apple processing (Schmit, 2018). There are two different ways juicing can be done which would either be through a rack and cloth frame press or a cider press (Biggs, 1985). Basically, these are just wooden frames with mounted screws. For the rack and cloth press, the main idea is to build up layers of crushed apples so that the juice can be pressed out (Biggs, 1985). A plastic pail with holes near the bottom to allow drainage of the juice is sufficient to perform the juicing process and this would be where the apples are placed to be mashed (Whizbang Cider, 2016). The cost of a 5-gallon plastic pail would cost $1.50-$5.00 per piece with a minimum order of 3000 pieces (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018). A second pail will also be needed to catch the juice that is being pressed out. This pulp (mash form) is then placed in a filter cloth inside of a container (whether it is plastic or other) where the fabric is gathered and tied at the top with a simple string. The bag containing the pulp becomes known as the cheese which helps in filtering the apple juice. This eliminates the need for a drain rack. Polyester, nylon, or cotton can be used as filter cloths. The first bag is then placed in the bottom of the plastic pail. A pressing plate is put on top of the bag of mash in the pail and then another bag of cheese is made until about 5 mash bags and 4 plates are used depending on the size of the pail or tub. The pressing plate can be made out of a piece of wood. This is one of the simplest ways to press juice/cider and very little skill is required (Whizbang Cider, 2016). The majority of the work from this process comes from preparing the apples and making the cheese needed for the process. To enable sales, 500 mL glass juice bottles can be purchased and used to package the apple juice/cider. They would cost $0.15-$0.50 per bottle and the amount one receives per order is 20000 pieces/bottles (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018). PVC plastic shrinkable sleeves for glass bottles can also be used for labeling the juice/cider and they cost $0.01-$0.08 for 20,000 pieces. Apple juice can be targeted towards any age group because it provides benefits of vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, fiber and is low in fat while also containing no fat or cholesterol so it is beneficial for human health (“What Are the Wonder Health Benefits of Drinking Apple Juice”, 2018).</p> 
</div>
   </div>
 <div style="margin-top: 30px;">
       <h3 class="title-bg">Apple Chips </h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
<p>The process of making apple chips on a small scale is a great way to use excess apples to reduce postharvest losses. The drying of apples can ensure a continuous supply and reduce food shortages (Wanyama, 2016). Drying apples can also result is less nutrient loss to promote human health as well as adding value through prolonged shelf life (Wanyama, 2016). In order to make apple chips, one must first prepare the pre-treating solution which is used to protect the apples from oxidative enzymatic browning (“Making Apple Chips”, 2018). The most common solution would be a mixture of water and lemon juice. The apples then need to be peeled, cored and sliced (“Making Apple Chips”, 2018). These tasks may require considerable labour depending on how many apples are being processed at one time. Once they are sliced they are soaked in the pre-treating solution and then spaced out on drying racks in a dehydrator (“Making Apple Chips”, 2018) If an industrial commercial food dehydrator was used the cost would range from $350.00-$990.00 and would require electricity (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018). A less costly method would be to sun-dry the apples. It is cheap and does not need any special equipment. Drying racks can be handmade from local materials as long as they allow air flow around the fruits. A cloth (cheese, nylon or other) is needed to keep insects off of the apple while they dry. Once again, lemons for the lemon juice and water mixture are needed. Then they are just left to sit in the sun until they dry out. An alternative to drying the apples on a handmade wooden rack would be to use a mesh fruit drying rack. They cost $9.80-$16.80 however, it would be more economically feasible to use a handmade drying rack (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018). There is more labour needed for packaging the apple chips. Food grade plastic aluminum packaging bags for food can be used to package the apples at $0.03-$0.05 per piece for 20,000 pieces as well as package labels which cost $0.01-0.99 per piece for 1000 pieces (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018). Apple chips can be appropriate for children and anyone older. Also, economically apple chips are more feasible because one can sell 1 tonne of apples for $9-$20 where as one can sell apple chips for $15-$29 per kilogram (“Alibaba Global trade starts here”, 2018).</p>
</div>
   </div>
 <div style="margin-top: 30px;">
       <h3 class="title-bg">Critical Analysis </h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">

<p>Some problems that can arise with these methods is the amount of time it takes to dry the apple chips as well as the amount of physical work it will take to mash the apples. Problems that can occur with making apple juice/cider are some apples being drier than others so they will not run through the press as well the resulting time spent trying to fix it. The amount of time needed for drying apples in the sun can also vary depending on various different weather factors like air flow, etc.</p> 
</div>
   </div>
 <div style="margin-top: 30px;">
       <h3 class="title-bg">Tips to Get Started</h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
<p><b>Whizbang Cider:</b></p> Part 2—Pressing the Apple Mash: https://youtu.be/bTxv6M9IuXY</p>
<p><b>Drying Apples:</b></p> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lTGF9LxBuI</p>
<p><b>Making Apple Chips:</b></p> http://www.hazelmanfarms.com/food_dehydration/apple_chips/</p>
<p><b>Pails for rack and cloth/cider press:</b></p> https://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?fsb=y&IndexArea=product_en&CatId=&SearchText=5+gallon+plastic+pail</p>
<p><b>Glass juice bottles:</b></p> https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/500ML-clear-customized-classic-round-shape_60769758367.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.348.3cec50eby2OpNd</p>
<p><b>PVC plastic shrinkable sleeves:</b></p> https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Customized-PET-PVC-plastic-shrink-wrap_1439016133.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017121.3.95867b6boIy11a&s=p</p>
<p><b>Aluminum packaging snack bags:</b></p> https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Custom-printing-High-Quality-food-grade_60794286908.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.51.6b13589eCrbuAI</p>
<p><b>Package labels:</b></p> https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Stickers-With-LOGO-Printing-Circular-Labels_60743852189.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.106.707a2305ZRuoXc</p>
</div>
   </div>
 <div style="margin-top: 30px;">
       <h3 class="title-bg">References </h3>
        <div class="cont-bg">
 <p>1.	Alibaba. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.alibaba.com</p>

<p>2.	All About Apples. (2018) Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/all-about-apples</p>

<p>3.	Biggs, E. (1985). Apple Cider, Autumn’s Nectar. Retrieved from https://smallfarmersjournal.com/apple-cider-autumns-nectar/</p>

<p>4.	Dannson, A., Accra, Ezedinma, G. C., Ibadan, Wambua, N. T. R., Njuru et al. (2004). Strengthening farm-agribusiness linkages in Africa. FAO, Rome. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/a-y5785e.pdf</p>

<p>5.	FAO. (2014). Apple-producing Family Farms in South Tyrol: An Agriculture Innovation Case Study. FAO, Rome. Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3789e.pdf</p>

<p>6.	Gyanunlimited. (2018). What Are the Wonder Health Benefits of Drinking Apple Juice”. Retrieved from http://www.gyanunlimited.com/health/what-are-the-wonder-health-benefits-of-drinking-apple-juice/8999/</p>

<p>7.	Hazelman Farms. (2018, November 13). Making Apple Chips. Retrieved from http://www.hazelmanfarms.com/food_dehydration/apple_chips/</p>

<p>8.	Kiggundu, N., Wanyama, J., Galyaki, C., Banadda, N., Muyonga, J.H., Zziwa, A., Kabenge, I. (2016, December). Solar fruit drying technologies for smallholder farmers in Uganda, A review of design constraints and solutions. Agricultural Engineering International 18(4): 200-210. Retrieved from http://www.cigrjournal.org/index.php/Ejounral/article/view/3713/2479</p>

<p>9.	Schmit, T. M., Severson, R. M., Strzok, J., Barros, J., (2018, March 25). Economic Contributions of the Apple Industry Supply Chain in New York State. Retrieved from https://dyson.cornell.edu/outreach/extension-bulletins/documents/Cornell-Dyson-eb1803.pdf</p>

<p>10.	Twin Island Cider. (2016, September 22). Rack and Cloth Pressing. Retrieved from http://www.twinislandcider.com/blog/2016/9/22/the-rack-cheese</p>

<p>11.	Wang, N., Wolf, J., Zhang, F. (2016). Towards sustainable intensification of apple production in China-Yield gaps and nutrient use efficiency in apple farming systems. Journal of Integrative Agriculture. 15(4), 716-725. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/S2095-3119(15)61099-1</p>

<p>12.	World Bank Group. (2005, March). South Africa: A Smallholder’s Innovative Approach to Producing and Exporting Fruit. In IK Notes. Retrieved from https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/10756/321570PAPER0iknt78.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y</p>