- autumn apple pressing -
With the numerous apple trees dotted across the landscape at the farm, it is not surprising that there are huge numbers of apples ready for eating at this time of year. A number go in to apple strudels and various other cakes. However, one can only eat so much cake. If you are feeling flush then you can make Schnapps or a weak apple cider. If you are feeling generous then the cows get a treat with their grass. However, the quickest and easier method 
of using all the excess apples is to take them to be pressed.
Martin had been gathering apples up from the fields for a couple of weeks, so it was time to head of to the ‘Obersverwertung’, literally translated as Fruit Utilization. I’d prefer to be a little more artistic and call it the Fruit Pressing Shop. A tiled floor with little more than a drain in the centre and an old cast iron pressing machine.
The 
process is straight forward. Take the apples and pour them into one end of the machine. When ready, start the motor and the apples will fire up through the masher and be reduced to pulp. Then stage is to take the pulp and layer it in muslin cloth in metal racks. When all the racks are ready, then it is time to press the apples.
The owner then rotated the apples through 180 and aligned them under the presser. The motor was started (again) and out gushed the pure apple juice. This was drained (again through muslin) into large containers. We were using old dairy canisters. When
finished, a small amount of natural preservative was added to each canister. Job complete.
The whole apple pressing only took half an hour and was a really social thing. Martin was chatting away with the other farmers that came into the shop to get their apples and pears juiced. It is great to see this type of enterprise still running, family run shop for the local community. We managed to get 40 litres of apple juice from the apples at the farm and the whole cost can in at approx €15. Not bad value all things considered. Oh and the apple juice tastes fantastic. For our guests want to catch some autumnal mountain biking, don’t be surprised to see a glass of apple juice with your breakfast in the morning.
