Historic Hood River
Apple Barrels
2-14-2023
Notes
It’s hard to imagine shipping apples in barrels, but it seems it was pretty common in the early 1900s. I wonder if these were lower quality apples destined for cider or sauce? Those apple definitely have plenty of blemishes, so it probably wasn’t worth the labor to hand pack in boxes.
According to the crate this is the Laraway Fruit Farm in Glenwood Iowa. That would place this image circa 1900. The barrels say “‘Newhall’ Stump Chicago” and the variety is identified as “Jonathan”. Jonathans or varieties including Jonathan are still pretty common.
You can see some of the tools needed to seal the barrels.
nels
Sealing apples in wooden barrels seems to me would lead to rapid spoiling.
L.E.
At first I thought they were making apple cider.
Seems like it would take a couple of strong men to load a barrel onto a wagon.
There is process of preserving apples called Russian Brined Apples.
You line a barrel with rye straw, fill it with apples, add a salt brine and some sour dough starter. Let it ferment through the winter.
Norma
L.E., I think with fermentation that might be called HARD cider!
Basaltgrouse
L.E., The lacto fermented apples sound intriguing. Does any one know if the process was used here locally for preserving apples. Typically lacto fermented produce will be shelf stable, in a cool environment, at least until the next years harvest is in. I think I will try it next fall if I can find suitable apple varieties grown organically.