In only the second year of operation, the Pressing Matter state-of-the-art press is being invited to festivals and farms all over the island.
The beauty of this press is that apples that would normally fall and rot on the ground can become a value added product by being pressed into juice and pasteurized. No more freezing required, reducing your power consumption.
“Last year, many people gave the juice as gifts and an artist on Hornby was really creative and personalized her juice by painting the boxes! Growing your own fruit and then sharing the bounty is such a beautiful gift,” said Marla Limousin, a co-owner of the press.
Christal and Andy Quinn of Quinnwood Meadows and George Ehrler and Marla Limousin of Natures Way Farm and Blue Moon Winery purchased the German-made mobile juicer last fall and opened Pressing Matter.
Processing with high-tech equipment, innovative flash pasteurization and convenient Bag-in-the-Box packaging will allow everyone with a tree and limited freezer space the opportunity to enjoy the bounty of their harvest throughout the winter.
Pasteurization allows safe storage of juice without refrigeration for one year and after opening, without refrigeration for up to three months. Some people want to make wine or hard cider and don’t need the juice pasteurized, which Pressing Matter can facilitate as well.
Pressing Matter offers services to private homeowners, commercial orchards, and non-profit organizations.
For small or large orchards, the mobile juicer will come to you, with a minimum of 6,400 pounds (about eight apple bins) of fruit.
Individuals can bring the apples to the press. As an estimate, one loaded tree will yield about 10 five-litre boxes of juice.
Drop your fruit (apples and pears) in the morning and take home delicious pasteurized juice in a convenient and safe packaging system later that same day. A bag in the box system is similar to a wine box.
It is a perfect opportunity for non-profit organizations to raise needed funding for their organization.
You might plan an “Apple-Fest” as a fundraising project where the fruit is gathered from abandoned and unpicked trees and made into juice for a winter fundraiser.
Visit www.pressingmatter.ca and Like us on Facebook.
— Pressing Matter