Apple Processing Factory in Production

This year, among the thousands of cases of Nelson's choicest apples that will flow over the wharves of Port Nelson into the holds of overseas ships, will be thousands of cartons of Nelson's latest apple products - pre-cooked apple pie filling and apple juice. These originate from the New Zealand Apple and Pear Marketing Board's new processing factory at Stoke which is now producing almost to capacity. The factory processes the apples which do not reach the standards for eating apples laid down by the board. The very latest machinery has been installed in this big, airy, 20, 000 sq. ft. factory. When we visited the factory curing the middle of the month, a trial run'of fruit juice was being conducted.

The apples come in through this gate on to Nayland Road....

...and emerge in cans after many processes in the packing department

Apples pass through this tumbler washer on way to mincer, passing through hands of Ida Johnson and Marlene Henlgan.

Under the giant press the pulped apple gives forth ita juice nourishment, while Gil Frost, supervisor, F. E. Atkinson (Canada), a technical adviser, and food tech nologist Charles Reddish look on.

Pulped apple flows from huge storage tanks on to trays

Apple pie filling, already cooked, is canned in one-galion lots

Erica Galy supervises the canning of juice

After the canning operation the canned juice is taken by conveyor belt and gravity line to labelling machine (right)

Automatic pick-up machine lifts cases of fruit from filler line, sends apples to washing machine and disposes of empty case in one operation.

Apples are peeled and cores removed automatically

On apple filling breaking down line, apples are washed, peeled, washed again, checked for purity and finally sliced in machine (foreground) before rising by conveyor to commence next process.

Factory officers, Gordon Robertson (acting manager), Doug Kwan (production foreman), Bill Page and Trevor Barton (production supervisors), Kevin Baddiley (administration), Charles Reddish and Doug McEwan (acting engineer).

Pat Norgate supervises sliced apples on way to cooking

Ian Barr lowers a cradle of canned filling into the first steriliser

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The Nelson Photo News

No 17 : March 31, 1962

Apple Processing Factory in Production