Intermediate technology development group brief: Fruit leathers

Abstract

Fruit Leathers are made by drying a very thin layer of fruit puree to produce a product with a texture similar to soft leather. The production of fruit leathers at three scales is described, from a very small simple home based system, through cottage industry to small industrial production. The following basic steps are involved at all levels of production: 1: selection and preparation of the fruit, 2. preparation of the puree batch, 3. preparation, 4. drying, and 5. packing and storage.