The Best Apple Sauce in the World!

Ever wondered what effects your food prices?

In this case Apple Sauce.

Many factors determine food prices.

The first cost we will discuss with you is the difference in cost to produce an organic apple versus a conventional apple.

A study funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development found that organic apples are roughly 60% more expensive than conventional apples.

There are a number of factors that contribute to this:

      • Demand for organic apples is high when compared to the supply.
      • Organic apples production cost is typically higher due to the increased labour required and because the amount produced is typically smaller which increases the overall cost.
      • Organic and conventional apples must be kept separate for processing and transportation, which due to the small quantities increases the cost

In addition, organic food price isn’t limited to producing the produce itself, there are a range of other factors that are not calculated in the price of conventional food.

      • Environmental enhancement and protection, organic apple producers are concerned with overall ecosystem health.
      • The organic apple producer’s health is protected by not using synthetic fertilisers or pesticides. (More expensive in the short term but how about the long term)
      • Rural development by generating additional farm employment and assuring a fair and sufficient income to producers
  • The cost of conventional apples is roughly £.92 a kilo, the cost of the same organic is £1.75 per kilo.
  • A difference of 83p per kilo.
food price show the cost of organic v conventional apples

It’s all about Class!

Bet you didn’t know that apples fall into three categories or classes!  All these classes have an impact on food prices.

Class extra

These apples are nearly perfect examples of an apple!  They are normally few and far between.

Class I

These are the apples you see at the supermarket and other retail sites.  They can have a few defects but only minor ones that are difficult to see.

Class II

These are not normally found for sale anywhere, these poor fellows are usually small, misshapen and have fairly large brown patches on the skin.

Which of these apple classes do you think is the most expensive?

If you were leaning toward Class Extra, you were leaning in the right direction.

Which apples do you think are usually used in applesauce?

If you guessed Class II, you were correct.  Though these apples are fine to eat, they may not look very appetising which is why you won’t find them on supermarket shelves.

What is the difference in cost between a Class I and a Class II apple?

  • Class I organic apples are £1.75 per kilo
  • Class II organic apples are £0.36 per kilo
food price organic apples for applsauce

Class I are almost 5 times more expensive than class II.

Most class II apples are used for the juice, cider and sauce industry.  In the case of juice and cider production the appearance doesn’t matter since the apples are pressed to get the juice.    

Commercially produced applesauce is generally made in a factory setting using tons of apples that are processed by machine and therefore have a much lower cost per unit. 

One of the major drawbacks to this is the peel is removed during the production process.  The peel of an apple contains almost half the fibre and a majority of the phytonutrients that may promote:

      • Gut Health
      • Healthy Heart
      • Brain health
      • Avoiding respiratory diseases
      • Lowering cancer risks

Something else to consider is what may be added to your applesauce.  This can have a huge bearing on food prices.  For example, a well-known commercial brand of applesauce contains these ingredients:

  • Conventional Apples (69%),
  • Sugar
  • Glucose Fructose Syrup
  • Water
  • Modified Corn Starch
  • Acid (Citric Acid)
  • Preservative (Potassium Sorbate)
Percentage of apples inthis applesauce

A popular organic commercial brand has this list of ingredients:

  • Organic Class II Apples (94.2%)
  • Organic Concentrated Apple Juice
  • Organic Concentrated Lemon Juice
Percentage of apples in this applesauce

The New England Apple Sauce Company 100% Organic Apple Sauce

Ingredients:

  • 100% Organic Class I Apples
Percentage of apples in this applesauce

Now you can see for yourself how different farming methods, quality of produce and ingredients help to determine your food prices.

Ask Your Question!

You can ask us anything.  If it’s apple sauce related we will have the answer for you in a flash.

If it’s on another subject we’ll do our best to answer it for you, or point you to someone who can answer it for you.

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