July 9, 2025 • 29 mins
Perfectly Preserved Podcast episode show notes season 3 episode 109 How to Be an Expert at Picking Fruit for Preserving
Anna and Jenny talk about how to know if the fruit you’re picking is ripe or not. They share their best tips for picking fruit from trees and best tools (ladders/apple pickers & hooks/baskets (ice cream buckets, coffee cans with strings, lumbar pack! Backpacks on front, etc), choosing underripe fruit, bring the stems with the fruit to get them to last so much longer,
Cherries are ripe right now, with apricots close behind, cherry pitters
Here’s the link to the stackable foldable crates Anna loves: https://amzn.to/3I5M5Hm
Here’s the link to the cherry pitter than Anna and Jenny love by Norpro: https://amzn.to/467m7NV
Here’s the link to the Oxo food mill that Jenny loves so much: https://amzn.to/4kl9qm3
Hosted by Master Food Preservers Anna Cash and Jenny Gomes
New episodes every Wednesday!
Help support the show here: buymeacoffee.com/perfectlypreservedpodcast
Buy The Pressure Canning Cookbook here: https://amzn.to/3Cn3qJn
Get the Pineapple Habanero jam recipe from Anna here: https://smarthomecanning.com/products/recipe-for-pineapple-habanero-pepper-jelly
Anna’s Video courses- learn with Anna!
These notes have affiliate links which don’t change the price of the products we recommend, but help us keep creating the podcast. Please shop through our links!
Canning Supplies We Recommend
Help support the show here: buymeacoffee.com/perfectlypreservedpodcast
Buy The Pressure Canning Cookbook here: https://amzn.to/3Cn3qJn
Get the Pineapple Habanero jam recipe from Anna here: https://smarthomecanning.com/products/recipe-for-pineapple-habanero-pepper-jelly
Anna’s Video courses- learn with Anna!
These notes have affiliate links which don’t change the price of the products we recommend, but help us keep creating the podcast. Please shop through our links!
Canning Supplies We Recommend
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
Welcome to the PerfectlyPreserved Podcast.
I'm your host Jenny Gomes.
And I'm Anna Cash.
Here we come together to bringyou a podcast all about
preserving food safely, easily,and dare I say, perfectly.
At home.
We are master food preserversmoms wives, and we love talking
about canning.
ready to can like a masterpreserver.
(00:21):
Let's get into today's episode.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-2 (00:25):
welcome back to another episode of the
Perfectly Preserved podcast.
I'm Jenny and I'm here with myco-host, Anna, and this is
season three.
We are so excited to talk withyou today, all about picking
fruit and veggie, but pickingfor canning and preserving and
all our tips and tricks forbeing a pro picker.
What kind of gear you need tohave in your car, how to know.
(00:49):
What to pick that's ripe orunder ripe and how to get it to
last longer once you have ithome.
And we have tons of good tipsfor all things produce
collection.
But first, if you, have left usa review, thank you so much.
We cannot thank you enough forleaving us reviews.
It helps, others find our showand we appreciate it so much.
If you haven't left us a review,please head to that purple icon
(01:12):
or wherever you get your podcastand leave us a review.
It helps us so much.
this is our first season onYouTube.
Anna is crushing it with editingvideo.
And definitely you wanna headover to YouTube and check out
perfectly preserved podcaststhere.
Anna and I spend our most timeon Instagram.
I am at the domestic Wildflower,and Anna is at Smart Home
(01:32):
Canning.
I can't wait to see you guys inperson.
If you guys ever have an inperson event that you would like
Anna and I to speak at, we areopen to speaking opportunities.
Email us at Perfectly Preservedpodcast@gmail.com.
Let's dive in to today'sepisode.
Anna, let's start us off withAll the tips and tricks for
(01:58):
getting it home safe and soundso that it's the most useful for
our listeners.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (02:03):
I thought this would be a fun
episode.
Jenny and I were talking aboutwhat we could include in this
episode.
I am really lucky.
I live in northern Utah andthere is a plethora of stone
fruit in my area, and a majorityof it goes unpicked.
And so.
I lead a group of volunteers andwe go to people's houses and
(02:23):
rescue fruit.
And a lot of times when peopleshow up for maybe the first or
second time picking fruit,they're like, oh, you've got
system.
Because I do, when I go to picka fruit tree, there are certain
things that I have in the backof my truck.
And so I wanna share those withyou so that you can also be
prepared.
The first one is a really nice,lightweight eight foot ladder.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (02:47):
Hmm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (02:47):
I love an aluminum ladder.
They're really easy to get inand out of a car or a truck.
I have also a little giantladder, but those are very
heavy, very sturdy.
But I find for me it's a loteasier to have an aluminum
ladder I can get in and out ofthe truck.
(03:10):
What about you, Jenny?
Have you seen, or do you carryaround a ladder in the back of
your car like a weirdo like me?
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (03:17):
So I haven't had a ladder with me,
but I grew up using pickups asthe way to get a little taller.
When I was a kid, my dad wouldback the flatbed pickup that he
would normally use to feedcattle off of, like when you're
flake off hay off the back.
He would just back it up intothe blackberry bushes or
(03:39):
underneath the tree and that washow we got our elevation lift.
I mean, of course I have used aladder and I will use a ladder,
but, I kind of come from theland of the flatbed pickup
backing up.
To get a little taller and Ihave not normally driven a car
big enough for a ladder.
I'm not opposed to putting,giant pieces of furniture into
(03:59):
my car.
So I usually skip a ladder infavor of either borrowing or
driving my husband's pickup orusing a pickup or, climbing like
a maniac on the side of the roadI just have done other things,
but.
Listen to Anna and I think analuminum ladder is a great idea.
And something that, that's alifetime investment.
(04:20):
You're not gonna be sorry.
You own a good one.
What else do you have in yourcar for picking fruit?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (04:24):
uh, during fruit season, I always
drive around with thesecollapsible, fruit crates is
what they're called.
Collapsible crate.
I like the shorter ones.
they come in, I wanna say threeinches tall and six inches tall
and 12 inches tall.
And for me, I prefer the smallerones because if you get more
(04:47):
fruit on top of each other, ithas a tendency to crush
depending on how ripe your fruitis.
And so, just stackable.
Foldable crates are a lifesaver.
And usually the crates that Ipurchase, I don't know about
you, but the crates that Ipurchase have holes and slats in
them.
So you could even just take yourfruit out back and hose it out
(05:07):
that way so that you're cleaningit.
And also having a, a place forit to dry out a little bit too
before you start working withit.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2025 (05:16):
I think having a crate or any kind
of receptacle that's not toodeep applies to pretty much
everything you're gonna pick.
If you get five gallon bucketdepth, your stuff on the bottom
is gonna get squished and you'renot gonna be able to see if, oh,
whoops, there's one that'sbruised.
I also have a dad who loves thefive gallon bucket and he like
(05:37):
in my life, he was just like,take a five gallon bucket.
And those are not ideal.
Your stackable crepe things verygood and better for them to hang
out in for however long theyhave to wait for you to process
them.
That's a better receptacle.
And with the airflow you wantthat for sure.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (05:54):
Yeah.
I would say too, in my area, Idonate to Catholic Community
Services and they have actuallygiven me crates I can, bring
fruit.
And then, they swap me out withCrates and they were like, oh,
do you need more crates?
And I just always say yes,because, you know, when we're
picking, it allows people totake.
(06:15):
Fruit home in the crates, or,drop off at the food bank.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (06:20):
Mm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_1556 (06:20):
Catholic Community Services if they're in
your area.
They're very generous with meanyway.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (06:26):
That's awesome.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (06:27):
I also carry around a basket.
I have one of those really big.
Woven baskets from Africa.
I believe they're from Ghana.
I have one that's probably 20years old and they just last
forever.
the great thing about'em isbecause they are a natural
material, you can hose it out.
(06:49):
If you ever get, for me, I getsquashed apricots in there
sometimes.
You can just hose it out andthen let it dry in the sun I
haven't had any issues withcleaning them out that way.
Sometimes I'll bring a paper anda notepad, sticky notes to write
on, a note and put it onsomebody's door if they don't
answer the door.
(07:09):
And, I'm asking if I can picktheir fruit.
I'll leave a note.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (07:15):
That's amazing.
I also love those baskets.
The ones I have have a littletag that says Volga, B-O-L-G-A.
So I don't know if that is abrand name or a style, but I
feel like when my kids areadults, they'll think of every
mom they know has one of thesebaskets.
'cause that's like what youwould take to the swimming pool
or you would bring.
(07:36):
Fruit home in it, or it was justa super useful basket.
And I have wash wine in thebathtub with a little bit of
dish soap and they dry.
It's incredible how they regaintheir shape.
So if you ever have a chance tothrift one or get one from
somebody, they are super great.
And they're great for fruit andfor picking.
I love, especially for berries,for raspberries, blackberries.
(08:00):
Anything small.
I love, this is so, it feelskind of hokey pokey to say, but
they're really great.
The plastic, I think it's twoquart ice cream buckets.
Okay.
So the next time you wanna getsome ice cream, get one of those
plastic buckets and they're,where I live it's like$9, which
is highway robbery it feelslike, but.
(08:22):
That's how much it costs forthese ice cream containers with
the ice cream in it.
You eat the ice cream, you reusethe bucket, and it's like the
perfect size, I feel like forthe amount that you might pick
casually, right?
Not a whole day of picking, butit's just enough to
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (08:39):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (08:40):
It's small enough if a kid dumps
that, it's not the end of theworld.
They come with the lid, you'rereusing.
They nest inside each other.
They're quick to wash out in thesink.
I just think they are really,really a very handy tool.
My whole life, my mom, it waslike every person had an ice
cream bucket.
My grandma used to get ice creamfrom the Swan Man, which was an
(09:02):
interesting like food deliverything.
But, so we all had schwanbuckets, but you can just get
regular ice cream buckets likethat.
And those, I think that's what Ihave in my car during, like from
now-ish till like school startsor later because it, if you're,
wherever you are and there'sfruit, if you don't have
anything, you're gonna end upputting it like in a baseball
(09:22):
cap.
And that is not ideal for avariety of reasons.
But I have definitely done thattoo.
The reusable plastic with ahandle and a lid.
I don't know if anything, I'msure you could buy something
exactly like that, but youwouldn't get the ice cream with
it.
So I feel like that's a definitehome run.
Why don't you tell everyoneabout the incredible North Face
(09:45):
lumbar pack?
You have incredible.
Never seen anyone use this.
Tell us all about it, Anna.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (09:50):
Okay.
So if you're seeing this onYouTube, this is my lumbar pack.
I found it at the thrift store.
I know you're not shocked.
It comes with two spots forwater bottles and then, the
middle section.
It could probably carry about agallon of fruit, I would say
easily.
And it just fits around yourwaist.
(10:11):
It has a really large strap onthe back.
The thing that I love aboutNorth Face is that their packs
are meant to last.
And this is probably, I wouldsay from the nineties.
And it's excellent condition andI use it I clip it around my
waist and that way both of myhands are free and I'm.
(10:31):
just picking away.
If you see something like thisat the thrift store, pick it up.
It's so good.
I've also seen people takebackpacks, just carry around
empty backpacks in their car andthey flip it around and put it
in the front and unzip it.
And then you also have two handsfree for picking as well if, if
(10:53):
you're not able to find one ofthese lumbar packs.
One of the reasons I got it wasbecause my sister said that,
women tend to be able to carrymore weight around their hips
and their waist area than ontheir shoulders.
like a traditional backpack.
Those are mainly better for menwho have more upper body
strength, but women's strengthsusually is in their legs and
(11:16):
their hips, and so carryingextra weight, around that area
is a little bit easier to do andI found that to be true.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (11:25):
So I have never seen.
Anyone use that.
And so Anna, we just, before wehit record, she showed me her
lumbar pack.
And so I'm, right now I'mlooking on eBay.
There's, I can't even count.
I there's dozens.
There's one for every listener.
Okay?
Everyone.
If you can't go to a thriftstore in person, you can thrift
them online.
(11:46):
Like one is new with tags,$18,incredible.
And these are like.
Think like fanny pack, but likein a like much larger, it's
probably three times the size,four times the size of a fanny
pack.
Anna, is that right?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (12:02):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (12:03):
Yeah.
How handy.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (12:06):
Plus a lot of different compartments,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (12:08):
Yeah.
A place for your water.
you're never gonna be sorry thatyou have that.
That's amazing.
The thing about that's alsohandy that Anna touched on is
the fact that you can use bothhands, right?
So holding an ice cream bucket,you have to keep holding the ice
cream bucket.
So that's its limitation, butyou can use both hands.
That's especially helpful when,obviously just for reaching more
(12:30):
fruit, but then like withblackberries or anything that
has thorns, you almost alwayshave to have one hand.
Pushing the vines or the pricklyoutta the way and then you're
reaching in deeper, right?
It's very hard to do that if youonly have one hand.
I dunno, maybe not very hard,but it's much easier if you have
two hands available.
So if you're thinking aboutthorned, mostly blackberries, I
(12:53):
guess just having that extrahand makes it really nice.
I have a.
Family with whom we have beenlifelong friends.
And they are folks who usecoffee cans with a string tied,
like from one side to the otherso that those coffee cans are
hanging around their neck.
The quantity is much smaller.
But you're picking is a lotsmaller.
(13:14):
But then again, your hands free,which is free.
Okay.
Almost free.
Having just a small receptacle,you could do that with a
margarine container or any otherlittle.
Reused.
Ooh.
Parmesan cheese containers.
You could get any reused plasticfood container just with a
string around so they could hangfrom your neck.
That's also handy and free, andyou could just like whip it
(13:37):
together this afternoon whenyou're listening to this
podcast.
But, the hands free thing, superhelpful.
We didn't talk about, like applepicking hooks or like any of
those tall things.
Anna, do you wanna speak tothat?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (13:51):
sure.
So you.
Are picking really high fruit,maybe in an old apple orchard or
a cherry tree or whatever.
only seen them really work wellon pears, apples, plums.
'cause mine, the hooks on theend are kind of wide.
(14:11):
I've never used them forcherries, but now I'm thinking
maybe I should give it a try.
But they're long, they're onmaybe an eight foot long pole,
six foot long pole, something
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06- (14:22):
Probably that big.
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (14:24):
Yeah, they're great for standing on
the ground and just reaching upand pulling things.
And it has a little basket thereat the bottom.
mine has a little piece of foamalso in that basket so that when
you yank it down, it doesn'tbruise the fruit.
And that particular tool was atour house when we moved in
because we have a lot fruit Andyeah, it was just here, which
(14:46):
was really sweet.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (14:47):
So
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (14:48):
you have one of those, Jenny, or
does your family.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (14:51):
we don't, and we should, we don't
have one and we definitelyshould.
But I have used them and theyare very handy.
maybe this is a nice segue tomention that when you're picking
fruit off of a tree, it's notall gonna be exactly the same
amount of ripeness and the fruitthat you might reach way up high
that's getting more sun is verylikely to be more ripe and or
(15:15):
have had more exposure to birds,like pecking in them or, and or
just general pests.
I know that was true.
It's when we're recording thisis.
At the end of cherry season forHannah and I and the, well, my
dad only, he only has two cherrytrees, but the branches that
were getting more direct sun, Imean, it was like, oh, those are
(15:35):
already, it was like not evenworth putting the ladder in
those areas because they hadripened so much faster than the
ones that had a little bit moreshade, a little bit more
protection from the sun.
So if you are gonna use likethose big, long apple picking
polls or any other long thinglike that, uh, just know if
(15:58):
you're reaching that high, thenwhat you're reaching for is
gonna be a little bit furtheralong in terms of ripeness.
What other tips do you haveabout choosing ripe versus
unripe and why do you want both?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (16:09):
So when you're making jams and
jellies, the tendency a lot oftimes is to pick the Swedish
most ripe fruit and.
difficulty when you're makingjam is that doesn't have a lot
of natural pectin in it
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-2 (16:22):
Mm-hmm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (16:22):
It's always good to get some fruit
that's not quite ripe, reallyhas high levels of pectin in it.
And that's gonna be a little bitmore sour.
The fruit's gonna be probably alittle bit more hard.
but I'm not talking like.
unripe.
I'm just talking about justbeginning to ripen.
Throw a couple of those in yourjam pot.
(16:43):
I'm talking specifically aboutpeaches and I'm talking about
apricots.
Those are at least where I live,one of the most common fruits
that don't seem to set up injams for people, The tendency is
to get the sweetest, most ripe,juicy peach, and then try and
make jam out of it.
And you end up with a reallysoft set.
Jam, which looks like a syrup alot of times.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (17:06):
Yeah, it is a shark sometimes.
I always think of that underripe fruit, as I seem like I'm
always picking with children,and if you have.
A 5-year-old who just wants topick whatever that they wanna
pick.
Those under ripe things, leavethem in there.
So like the pale pinkblackberry, include it because
(17:27):
that is gonna help just yourgeneral set and give a more
varied, maybe not varied, but itcan help flavor wise too.
So I always think if a kidaccidentally picked something
under ripe, it doesn't matter.
Just leave it in there.
Or if you, with your applepicker, you accidentally pull
down an apple that was not readyor include it, it's not gonna
hurt and it probably will help.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (17:48):
Jenny lives in Northern California.
For those of you that don'tknow, I live in northern Utah.
She lives in NorthernCalifornia.
And so we do have a little bitdifferent fruit In each area.
I don't really have a lot ofplaces here where I can pick
blackberries, but Jenny knowsall about blackberry
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (18:03):
it's true.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (18:04):
and apple picking.
What else grows in your area
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (18:07):
So here the Blackberries do the
best where they have a prettysteady supply of water and they,
I think they do drink a lot ofwater actually.
I've never like purposelycultivated them because they're
just wild.
Here, there and everywhere.
But the thickest probably downby the river or at the lowest
elevation.
And I'm, Northern California forme, is literally at the very top
(18:30):
of the state, not San Francisco.
I think they have blackberriesdown there in San Fran too.
But, anyway, we have a goodplace to grow berries.
We have a lot of blackberries.
People cultivate raspberriespretty readily.
We have a lot of.
I would say like homestead typestone fruits, which is felt very
Utah.
When I visited Anna peaches,plums, apricots those all have
(18:53):
done well here.
And then we have a prettystrong, I would say people
frequently have apples.
Just whether or not they have.
Pick them or use them or not.
But I feel like most people haveapples rental hosts.
Houses have apples.
people all have apples here.
That's all pretty easily.
So that is an overlap withAnna's area.
(19:13):
We have a lot of choke cherriesand elderberries.
So Anna's at four.
Are you at 4,000 or 5,000 feet?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:20):
I'm in between.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (19:21):
Oh, okay.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:21):
feet in elevation.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (19:23):
So I'm at 3000, so that's pretty
similar.
So we tend to have, there's alot of elderberry, a lot of
those like, I dunno what to callthat type of plants I'm thinking
of, but they're like tiny treeberries.
Like, but you have currentswhere you live in.
I don't know that I've ever seena current here.
(19:44):
Yeah, you have other things thatI don't have, like currents.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:47):
yeah.
Those are, they're not wild.
People have to cultivate them.
And they are, once they'reestablished, I think they're
pretty good.
I have some black currents andred currents in my front yard,
but they're, thirsty.
You can't really leave themalone here in the high desert,
like you, you really have to.
I feel like that's the same withmost berries
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (20:06):
sure.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:07):
Tend to be, you know, higher water
usage.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (20:10):
This is the first year that I've had
what I would call a true garden.
We've been doing a ton of workon our house and, uh, the
location that it was going to bewas never determined.
So now I could do that for thefirst year.
And my strawberries, I can'teven believe how well doing.
And I have a dog that's keepingthe deer away.
So, I have two things working inmy favor.
But I don't have enough to canyet, but I just am like, dang,
(20:33):
these are really growing.
I can see how if you get yourstrawberries going and give them
plenty of water, they reallywill multiply and I can see
like, oh shoot, maybe Ishouldn't have filled this bed
in.
I should have given them a lotmore room because they're
definitely growing.
So I can't wait till I haveenough strawberries of my own
that I can just go pick acolander full.
That would be amazing.
I can't wait for that.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:53):
That sounds dreamy.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (20:54):
It is dreamy.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:55):
Have strawberries,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (20:57):
It's too hot.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:58):
to.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (20:58):
Too hot.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:59):
We've had water situations on our
property since we moved in about10 years We have a pump From a
creek that runs in our backyard,And it's a really rudimentary
system, I feel like every springwhen Bucky gets the pump out, a
lot of.
Cursing and weeping and wailing,and how does this thing work and
(21:20):
how are we gonna get watereverywhere?
And, we don't have sprinklersset up.
Just this year he put in acouple zones, And then he put a
timer on it.
So I'm hoping that the plantsthat I put a new garden in the
very back and I'm hoping thatthat garden will just take off.
I've got some herbs and tomatoesand stuff back there.
(21:43):
But now I'm thinking I need toput a bunch of strawberries and
raspberries back there too.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (21:50):
It is hard.
I mean, the thing I always thinkabout is if you grow fruit,
that's food for all thecreatures that wanna eat it
besides you.
So you have to be thoughtfulabout what is this gonna draw
in?
I have chickens and so I have tothink like my husband, he is
like, oh, if the bear wants tohe is not gonna just come for
the berries and then stay forthe chicken dinner.
He sort of doubts that's a realconcern.
(22:13):
But I tend to think like, well,I don't really wanna create more
attractant.
You know, that's an ongoing,argument I have with myself.
Should I plant more fruit treesor plant berries or, you know,
what else should I add?
Or what's the risk and benefitif I do that?
So we mentioned that cherryseason is wrapping up and we did
have a couple questions onsocial media about cherry
(22:34):
pitters.
So Anna and I can touch on thatbriefly.
A cherry pitter is an awesomelittle tool that if you have
cherries in your life and youwant to be able to process them,
you don't need to buy a cherrypitter, but they can be really
handy.
The one I have is called, theBrand Is Nor Pro and it clamps
to the countertop or your tableedge,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (22:55):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (22:55):
it has a little hopper.
You put your berries in it andit has like kind of a plunger
that you punch through eachberry, and it is punching the
pit out and spitting the pittedfruit out.
Another shoot and I would showit to you, but as I just
recently discovered, after Ipicked a ton of cherries at my
dad's place, I had loaned mysister my cherry pitter last
(23:18):
year.
Forgot all about it.
And so I don't have it with meright now.
It's at my sister's place, butthat's a cherry pitter I have,
and I really do like it.
Anna, what pitter do you haveand do you love?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (23:29):
So I have a Nor Pro as well, and then
I also have one called aVictoria.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (23:34):
I.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (23:35):
tools for canning, but nor Pro is
great.
The one thing that I do likeabout, cherry pitter like that
is that you can do a largeAmount of time.
it is still work.
It is one cherry at a time.
I am interested in purchasing.
(23:55):
It almost looks like a clamshell, and you can do six at a
time,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (23:59):
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (24:00):
And there's a reservoir in the
bottom that catches the pit andthen you dump your cherries out
and then put another six And, myfriend got that this year, and
so I'm interested to talk to herto see it went If that took more
time or less time.
But yeah.
But I really like both of those,nor pro and Victoria.
(24:21):
Yeah, got mine at Smith andEdwards.
If you've been around for anyamount of time, you know that I
love Smith and Edwards.
It's a store here in northernUtah and South Jordan, Utah, and
they just have of canningsupplies, and that's where I got
mine.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (24:37):
So if you don't have a pitter and
you have a lot of cherries toprocess, I'll tell you what I
had to do.
That isn't the best method, butit is an effective method.
So I.
Washed and stemmed my cherriesand filled the pot with just
barely enough water to cover andI brought them to a simmer so
that they got very loose andsoft and I ladled them into the
(24:59):
hopper of my food mill, my Oxobrand food mill, which is like
bowl shaped.
And then I spun it around.
I used the plate that has thelargest holes and that
absolutely did pit all of thosecherries for me.
That's about as big of a objectthat, food mill can go over.
(25:23):
It was like driving over a dirtroad with a lot of rocks in the
road.
It was pretty elbow griefintensive, but it definitely
worked.
And I do not personally find joyin using a pairing knife to
carefully cut a cherry off ofthe pit.
I would rather not ever do that.
Maybe that would feel likemeditation to you.
You can do that if you'd like,but I,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (25:45):
much work.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (25:46):
some people like that kind of chore.
I don't.
And it's great if you do thatwould also work.
But that's what I used and itworked great.
The cherry syrup turned outdelicious.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (25:58):
So I finally saw your O XO, Oxo food
milk, I was like, oh, that's alot bigger than I thought
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (26:05):
Oh yeah,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (26:07):
'cause in my head it's only a cup sized
bowl No, the Oxo brand food millman.
I should write a whole, I couldwrite a whole ode to the food
mill.
It's so useful and it's nevergoing to not work.
it's analog.
It comes apart.
It's easy to wash.
It's not gonna cut your fingerby accident.
(26:27):
It just has so many featuresthat I feel like are just very
handy, very user friendly.
mine was given to me by my otherfriend, Anna, at my baby shower
to make baby food and I haveused it so much more than for
using for baby food.
It's my canning superstar.
Love it.
So I'll include a link in theshow notes too.
(26:47):
We'll have links to the cherrypitter and the stackable
foldable crates I think so thatif you guys are.
Interested in looking at those?
We'll have'em in the show notes,there was one thing I wanted to
mention and that is, if you livein an area with tart cherries or
pie cherries, they are a lotsmaller than a sweet cherry.
(27:07):
And you might wonder, how can Ipit that?
Because a lot of times it's justalmost too small for my And I
saw somebody online.
of meditation, but he had hisgrandma's old hairpin and he was
taking pits out with an oldhairpin, and I thought, oh,
heaven, help you.
Like that is so tedious.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (27:29):
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:30):
So if you love pie cherries, town.
But I just don't know I wanna dothat with my life.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2025 (27:38):
I know I don't, but I do know that
some people like that.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:41):
for everyone.
I guess if you're just makinglike one pie, maybe it would be
perfect.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (27:48):
That's still so many.
That's four cups
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:50):
I guess that's four hours of your
life.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (27:55):
It would take a long time.
You heard it here first, folks.
It would take a long time.
Maybe you want to do that, andif you, that's how your grandma
did it.
That might feel good.
So do what you want.
If you don't want to do that,you could use a food mill any
way that you get the fruit soft.
We'll make it so that you coulddo it with your fingers faster
than probably a hairpin if youcook them for soft first.
(28:17):
That sounds kind of mushy andyuck.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (28:18):
thanks so much for joining us for this
episode.
We hope to see you next week.
And again, thank you so much forthe ratings and review that you
give our podcast and for joiningus on YouTube.
Hope you have a great week andhappy picking.
That's our show.
We don't want you to miss anepisode, so please be sure to
subscribe.
(28:39):
If you found this episodehelpful and informative, please
give our show a rating andreview.
It only takes a few seconds andit really helps our show grow.
Follow us on social media atSmart Home Canning and at the
domestic wildflower.
Email your preserving questionsto Perfectly Preserved
podcast@gmail.com and we will doour best to answer your
(29:00):
questions on the show.
Thanks so much for listening.
Stay tuned for our next episodereleased every week.
Welcome to the PerfectlyPreserved Podcast.
I'm your host Jenny Gomes.
And I'm Anna Cash.
Here we come together to bringyou a podcast all about
preserving food safely, easily,and dare I say, perfectly.
At home.
We are master food preserversmoms wives, and we love talking
about canning.
ready to can like a masterpreserver.
(00:21):
Let's get into today's episode.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-2 (00:25):
welcome back to another episode of the
Perfectly Preserved podcast.
I'm Jenny and I'm here with myco-host, Anna, and this is
season three.
We are so excited to talk withyou today, all about picking
fruit and veggie, but pickingfor canning and preserving and
all our tips and tricks forbeing a pro picker.
What kind of gear you need tohave in your car, how to know.
(00:49):
What to pick that's ripe orunder ripe and how to get it to
last longer once you have ithome.
And we have tons of good tipsfor all things produce
collection.
But first, if you, have left usa review, thank you so much.
We cannot thank you enough forleaving us reviews.
It helps, others find our showand we appreciate it so much.
If you haven't left us a review,please head to that purple icon
(01:12):
or wherever you get your podcastand leave us a review.
It helps us so much.
this is our first season onYouTube.
Anna is crushing it with editingvideo.
And definitely you wanna headover to YouTube and check out
perfectly preserved podcaststhere.
Anna and I spend our most timeon Instagram.
I am at the domestic Wildflower,and Anna is at Smart Home
(01:32):
Canning.
I can't wait to see you guys inperson.
If you guys ever have an inperson event that you would like
Anna and I to speak at, we areopen to speaking opportunities.
Email us at Perfectly Preservedpodcast@gmail.com.
Let's dive in to today'sepisode.
Anna, let's start us off withAll the tips and tricks for
(01:58):
getting it home safe and soundso that it's the most useful for
our listeners.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (02:03):
I thought this would be a fun
episode.
Jenny and I were talking aboutwhat we could include in this
episode.
I am really lucky.
I live in northern Utah andthere is a plethora of stone
fruit in my area, and a majorityof it goes unpicked.
And so.
I lead a group of volunteers andwe go to people's houses and
(02:23):
rescue fruit.
And a lot of times when peopleshow up for maybe the first or
second time picking fruit,they're like, oh, you've got
system.
Because I do, when I go to picka fruit tree, there are certain
things that I have in the backof my truck.
And so I wanna share those withyou so that you can also be
prepared.
The first one is a really nice,lightweight eight foot ladder.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (02:47):
Hmm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (02:47):
I love an aluminum ladder.
They're really easy to get inand out of a car or a truck.
I have also a little giantladder, but those are very
heavy, very sturdy.
But I find for me it's a loteasier to have an aluminum
ladder I can get in and out ofthe truck.
(03:10):
What about you, Jenny?
Have you seen, or do you carryaround a ladder in the back of
your car like a weirdo like me?
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (03:17):
So I haven't had a ladder with me,
but I grew up using pickups asthe way to get a little taller.
When I was a kid, my dad wouldback the flatbed pickup that he
would normally use to feedcattle off of, like when you're
flake off hay off the back.
He would just back it up intothe blackberry bushes or
(03:39):
underneath the tree and that washow we got our elevation lift.
I mean, of course I have used aladder and I will use a ladder,
but, I kind of come from theland of the flatbed pickup
backing up.
To get a little taller and Ihave not normally driven a car
big enough for a ladder.
I'm not opposed to putting,giant pieces of furniture into
(03:59):
my car.
So I usually skip a ladder infavor of either borrowing or
driving my husband's pickup orusing a pickup or, climbing like
a maniac on the side of the roadI just have done other things,
but.
Listen to Anna and I think analuminum ladder is a great idea.
And something that, that's alifetime investment.
(04:20):
You're not gonna be sorry.
You own a good one.
What else do you have in yourcar for picking fruit?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (04:24):
uh, during fruit season, I always
drive around with thesecollapsible, fruit crates is
what they're called.
Collapsible crate.
I like the shorter ones.
they come in, I wanna say threeinches tall and six inches tall
and 12 inches tall.
And for me, I prefer the smallerones because if you get more
(04:47):
fruit on top of each other, ithas a tendency to crush
depending on how ripe your fruitis.
And so, just stackable.
Foldable crates are a lifesaver.
And usually the crates that Ipurchase, I don't know about
you, but the crates that Ipurchase have holes and slats in
them.
So you could even just take yourfruit out back and hose it out
(05:07):
that way so that you're cleaningit.
And also having a, a place forit to dry out a little bit too
before you start working withit.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2025 (05:16):
I think having a crate or any kind
of receptacle that's not toodeep applies to pretty much
everything you're gonna pick.
If you get five gallon bucketdepth, your stuff on the bottom
is gonna get squished and you'renot gonna be able to see if, oh,
whoops, there's one that'sbruised.
I also have a dad who loves thefive gallon bucket and he like
(05:37):
in my life, he was just like,take a five gallon bucket.
And those are not ideal.
Your stackable crepe things verygood and better for them to hang
out in for however long theyhave to wait for you to process
them.
That's a better receptacle.
And with the airflow you wantthat for sure.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (05:54):
Yeah.
I would say too, in my area, Idonate to Catholic Community
Services and they have actuallygiven me crates I can, bring
fruit.
And then, they swap me out withCrates and they were like, oh,
do you need more crates?
And I just always say yes,because, you know, when we're
picking, it allows people totake.
(06:15):
Fruit home in the crates, or,drop off at the food bank.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (06:20):
Mm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_1556 (06:20):
Catholic Community Services if they're in
your area.
They're very generous with meanyway.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (06:26):
That's awesome.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (06:27):
I also carry around a basket.
I have one of those really big.
Woven baskets from Africa.
I believe they're from Ghana.
I have one that's probably 20years old and they just last
forever.
the great thing about'em isbecause they are a natural
material, you can hose it out.
(06:49):
If you ever get, for me, I getsquashed apricots in there
sometimes.
You can just hose it out andthen let it dry in the sun I
haven't had any issues withcleaning them out that way.
Sometimes I'll bring a paper anda notepad, sticky notes to write
on, a note and put it onsomebody's door if they don't
answer the door.
(07:09):
And, I'm asking if I can picktheir fruit.
I'll leave a note.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (07:15):
That's amazing.
I also love those baskets.
The ones I have have a littletag that says Volga, B-O-L-G-A.
So I don't know if that is abrand name or a style, but I
feel like when my kids areadults, they'll think of every
mom they know has one of thesebaskets.
'cause that's like what youwould take to the swimming pool
or you would bring.
(07:36):
Fruit home in it, or it was justa super useful basket.
And I have wash wine in thebathtub with a little bit of
dish soap and they dry.
It's incredible how they regaintheir shape.
So if you ever have a chance tothrift one or get one from
somebody, they are super great.
And they're great for fruit andfor picking.
I love, especially for berries,for raspberries, blackberries.
(08:00):
Anything small.
I love, this is so, it feelskind of hokey pokey to say, but
they're really great.
The plastic, I think it's twoquart ice cream buckets.
Okay.
So the next time you wanna getsome ice cream, get one of those
plastic buckets and they're,where I live it's like$9, which
is highway robbery it feelslike, but.
(08:22):
That's how much it costs forthese ice cream containers with
the ice cream in it.
You eat the ice cream, you reusethe bucket, and it's like the
perfect size, I feel like forthe amount that you might pick
casually, right?
Not a whole day of picking, butit's just enough to
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (08:39):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (08:40):
It's small enough if a kid dumps
that, it's not the end of theworld.
They come with the lid, you'rereusing.
They nest inside each other.
They're quick to wash out in thesink.
I just think they are really,really a very handy tool.
My whole life, my mom, it waslike every person had an ice
cream bucket.
My grandma used to get ice creamfrom the Swan Man, which was an
(09:02):
interesting like food deliverything.
But, so we all had schwanbuckets, but you can just get
regular ice cream buckets likethat.
And those, I think that's what Ihave in my car during, like from
now-ish till like school startsor later because it, if you're,
wherever you are and there'sfruit, if you don't have
anything, you're gonna end upputting it like in a baseball
(09:22):
cap.
And that is not ideal for avariety of reasons.
But I have definitely done thattoo.
The reusable plastic with ahandle and a lid.
I don't know if anything, I'msure you could buy something
exactly like that, but youwouldn't get the ice cream with
it.
So I feel like that's a definitehome run.
Why don't you tell everyoneabout the incredible North Face
(09:45):
lumbar pack?
You have incredible.
Never seen anyone use this.
Tell us all about it, Anna.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (09:50):
Okay.
So if you're seeing this onYouTube, this is my lumbar pack.
I found it at the thrift store.
I know you're not shocked.
It comes with two spots forwater bottles and then, the
middle section.
It could probably carry about agallon of fruit, I would say
easily.
And it just fits around yourwaist.
(10:11):
It has a really large strap onthe back.
The thing that I love aboutNorth Face is that their packs
are meant to last.
And this is probably, I wouldsay from the nineties.
And it's excellent condition andI use it I clip it around my
waist and that way both of myhands are free and I'm.
(10:31):
just picking away.
If you see something like thisat the thrift store, pick it up.
It's so good.
I've also seen people takebackpacks, just carry around
empty backpacks in their car andthey flip it around and put it
in the front and unzip it.
And then you also have two handsfree for picking as well if, if
(10:53):
you're not able to find one ofthese lumbar packs.
One of the reasons I got it wasbecause my sister said that,
women tend to be able to carrymore weight around their hips
and their waist area than ontheir shoulders.
like a traditional backpack.
Those are mainly better for menwho have more upper body
strength, but women's strengthsusually is in their legs and
(11:16):
their hips, and so carryingextra weight, around that area
is a little bit easier to do andI found that to be true.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (11:25):
So I have never seen.
Anyone use that.
And so Anna, we just, before wehit record, she showed me her
lumbar pack.
And so I'm, right now I'mlooking on eBay.
There's, I can't even count.
I there's dozens.
There's one for every listener.
Okay?
Everyone.
If you can't go to a thriftstore in person, you can thrift
them online.
(11:46):
Like one is new with tags,$18,incredible.
And these are like.
Think like fanny pack, but likein a like much larger, it's
probably three times the size,four times the size of a fanny
pack.
Anna, is that right?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (12:02):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (12:03):
Yeah.
How handy.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (12:06):
Plus a lot of different compartments,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (12:08):
Yeah.
A place for your water.
you're never gonna be sorry thatyou have that.
That's amazing.
The thing about that's alsohandy that Anna touched on is
the fact that you can use bothhands, right?
So holding an ice cream bucket,you have to keep holding the ice
cream bucket.
So that's its limitation, butyou can use both hands.
That's especially helpful when,obviously just for reaching more
(12:30):
fruit, but then like withblackberries or anything that
has thorns, you almost alwayshave to have one hand.
Pushing the vines or the pricklyoutta the way and then you're
reaching in deeper, right?
It's very hard to do that if youonly have one hand.
I dunno, maybe not very hard,but it's much easier if you have
two hands available.
So if you're thinking aboutthorned, mostly blackberries, I
(12:53):
guess just having that extrahand makes it really nice.
I have a.
Family with whom we have beenlifelong friends.
And they are folks who usecoffee cans with a string tied,
like from one side to the otherso that those coffee cans are
hanging around their neck.
The quantity is much smaller.
But you're picking is a lotsmaller.
(13:14):
But then again, your hands free,which is free.
Okay.
Almost free.
Having just a small receptacle,you could do that with a
margarine container or any otherlittle.
Reused.
Ooh.
Parmesan cheese containers.
You could get any reused plasticfood container just with a
string around so they could hangfrom your neck.
That's also handy and free, andyou could just like whip it
(13:37):
together this afternoon whenyou're listening to this
podcast.
But, the hands free thing, superhelpful.
We didn't talk about, like applepicking hooks or like any of
those tall things.
Anna, do you wanna speak tothat?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (13:51):
sure.
So you.
Are picking really high fruit,maybe in an old apple orchard or
a cherry tree or whatever.
only seen them really work wellon pears, apples, plums.
'cause mine, the hooks on theend are kind of wide.
(14:11):
I've never used them forcherries, but now I'm thinking
maybe I should give it a try.
But they're long, they're onmaybe an eight foot long pole,
six foot long pole, something
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06- (14:22):
Probably that big.
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (14:24):
Yeah, they're great for standing on
the ground and just reaching upand pulling things.
And it has a little basket thereat the bottom.
mine has a little piece of foamalso in that basket so that when
you yank it down, it doesn'tbruise the fruit.
And that particular tool was atour house when we moved in
because we have a lot fruit Andyeah, it was just here, which
(14:46):
was really sweet.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (14:47):
So
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (14:48):
you have one of those, Jenny, or
does your family.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (14:51):
we don't, and we should, we don't
have one and we definitelyshould.
But I have used them and theyare very handy.
maybe this is a nice segue tomention that when you're picking
fruit off of a tree, it's notall gonna be exactly the same
amount of ripeness and the fruitthat you might reach way up high
that's getting more sun is verylikely to be more ripe and or
(15:15):
have had more exposure to birds,like pecking in them or, and or
just general pests.
I know that was true.
It's when we're recording thisis.
At the end of cherry season forHannah and I and the, well, my
dad only, he only has two cherrytrees, but the branches that
were getting more direct sun, Imean, it was like, oh, those are
(15:35):
already, it was like not evenworth putting the ladder in
those areas because they hadripened so much faster than the
ones that had a little bit moreshade, a little bit more
protection from the sun.
So if you are gonna use likethose big, long apple picking
polls or any other long thinglike that, uh, just know if
(15:58):
you're reaching that high, thenwhat you're reaching for is
gonna be a little bit furtheralong in terms of ripeness.
What other tips do you haveabout choosing ripe versus
unripe and why do you want both?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (16:09):
So when you're making jams and
jellies, the tendency a lot oftimes is to pick the Swedish
most ripe fruit and.
difficulty when you're makingjam is that doesn't have a lot
of natural pectin in it
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-2 (16:22):
Mm-hmm.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (16:22):
It's always good to get some fruit
that's not quite ripe, reallyhas high levels of pectin in it.
And that's gonna be a little bitmore sour.
The fruit's gonna be probably alittle bit more hard.
but I'm not talking like.
unripe.
I'm just talking about justbeginning to ripen.
Throw a couple of those in yourjam pot.
(16:43):
I'm talking specifically aboutpeaches and I'm talking about
apricots.
Those are at least where I live,one of the most common fruits
that don't seem to set up injams for people, The tendency is
to get the sweetest, most ripe,juicy peach, and then try and
make jam out of it.
And you end up with a reallysoft set.
Jam, which looks like a syrup alot of times.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (17:06):
Yeah, it is a shark sometimes.
I always think of that underripe fruit, as I seem like I'm
always picking with children,and if you have.
A 5-year-old who just wants topick whatever that they wanna
pick.
Those under ripe things, leavethem in there.
So like the pale pinkblackberry, include it because
(17:27):
that is gonna help just yourgeneral set and give a more
varied, maybe not varied, but itcan help flavor wise too.
So I always think if a kidaccidentally picked something
under ripe, it doesn't matter.
Just leave it in there.
Or if you, with your applepicker, you accidentally pull
down an apple that was not readyor include it, it's not gonna
hurt and it probably will help.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (17:48):
Jenny lives in Northern California.
For those of you that don'tknow, I live in northern Utah.
She lives in NorthernCalifornia.
And so we do have a little bitdifferent fruit In each area.
I don't really have a lot ofplaces here where I can pick
blackberries, but Jenny knowsall about blackberry
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (18:03):
it's true.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (18:04):
and apple picking.
What else grows in your area
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (18:07):
So here the Blackberries do the
best where they have a prettysteady supply of water and they,
I think they do drink a lot ofwater actually.
I've never like purposelycultivated them because they're
just wild.
Here, there and everywhere.
But the thickest probably downby the river or at the lowest
elevation.
And I'm, Northern California forme, is literally at the very top
(18:30):
of the state, not San Francisco.
I think they have blackberriesdown there in San Fran too.
But, anyway, we have a goodplace to grow berries.
We have a lot of blackberries.
People cultivate raspberriespretty readily.
We have a lot of.
I would say like homestead typestone fruits, which is felt very
Utah.
When I visited Anna peaches,plums, apricots those all have
(18:53):
done well here.
And then we have a prettystrong, I would say people
frequently have apples.
Just whether or not they have.
Pick them or use them or not.
But I feel like most people haveapples rental hosts.
Houses have apples.
people all have apples here.
That's all pretty easily.
So that is an overlap withAnna's area.
(19:13):
We have a lot of choke cherriesand elderberries.
So Anna's at four.
Are you at 4,000 or 5,000 feet?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:20):
I'm in between.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (19:21):
Oh, okay.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:21):
feet in elevation.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (19:23):
So I'm at 3000, so that's pretty
similar.
So we tend to have, there's alot of elderberry, a lot of
those like, I dunno what to callthat type of plants I'm thinking
of, but they're like tiny treeberries.
Like, but you have currentswhere you live in.
I don't know that I've ever seena current here.
(19:44):
Yeah, you have other things thatI don't have, like currents.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (19:47):
yeah.
Those are, they're not wild.
People have to cultivate them.
And they are, once they'reestablished, I think they're
pretty good.
I have some black currents andred currents in my front yard,
but they're, thirsty.
You can't really leave themalone here in the high desert,
like you, you really have to.
I feel like that's the same withmost berries
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (20:06):
sure.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:07):
Tend to be, you know, higher water
usage.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (20:10):
This is the first year that I've had
what I would call a true garden.
We've been doing a ton of workon our house and, uh, the
location that it was going to bewas never determined.
So now I could do that for thefirst year.
And my strawberries, I can'teven believe how well doing.
And I have a dog that's keepingthe deer away.
So, I have two things working inmy favor.
But I don't have enough to canyet, but I just am like, dang,
(20:33):
these are really growing.
I can see how if you get yourstrawberries going and give them
plenty of water, they reallywill multiply and I can see
like, oh shoot, maybe Ishouldn't have filled this bed
in.
I should have given them a lotmore room because they're
definitely growing.
So I can't wait till I haveenough strawberries of my own
that I can just go pick acolander full.
That would be amazing.
I can't wait for that.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:53):
That sounds dreamy.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (20:54):
It is dreamy.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:55):
Have strawberries,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (20:57):
It's too hot.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:58):
to.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-20 (20:58):
Too hot.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (20:59):
We've had water situations on our
property since we moved in about10 years We have a pump From a
creek that runs in our backyard,And it's a really rudimentary
system, I feel like every springwhen Bucky gets the pump out, a
lot of.
Cursing and weeping and wailing,and how does this thing work and
(21:20):
how are we gonna get watereverywhere?
And, we don't have sprinklersset up.
Just this year he put in acouple zones, And then he put a
timer on it.
So I'm hoping that the plantsthat I put a new garden in the
very back and I'm hoping thatthat garden will just take off.
I've got some herbs and tomatoesand stuff back there.
(21:43):
But now I'm thinking I need toput a bunch of strawberries and
raspberries back there too.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (21:50):
It is hard.
I mean, the thing I always thinkabout is if you grow fruit,
that's food for all thecreatures that wanna eat it
besides you.
So you have to be thoughtfulabout what is this gonna draw
in?
I have chickens and so I have tothink like my husband, he is
like, oh, if the bear wants tohe is not gonna just come for
the berries and then stay forthe chicken dinner.
He sort of doubts that's a realconcern.
(22:13):
But I tend to think like, well,I don't really wanna create more
attractant.
You know, that's an ongoing,argument I have with myself.
Should I plant more fruit treesor plant berries or, you know,
what else should I add?
Or what's the risk and benefitif I do that?
So we mentioned that cherryseason is wrapping up and we did
have a couple questions onsocial media about cherry
(22:34):
pitters.
So Anna and I can touch on thatbriefly.
A cherry pitter is an awesomelittle tool that if you have
cherries in your life and youwant to be able to process them,
you don't need to buy a cherrypitter, but they can be really
handy.
The one I have is called, theBrand Is Nor Pro and it clamps
to the countertop or your tableedge,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (22:55):
Yeah.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (22:55):
it has a little hopper.
You put your berries in it andit has like kind of a plunger
that you punch through eachberry, and it is punching the
pit out and spitting the pittedfruit out.
Another shoot and I would showit to you, but as I just
recently discovered, after Ipicked a ton of cherries at my
dad's place, I had loaned mysister my cherry pitter last
(23:18):
year.
Forgot all about it.
And so I don't have it with meright now.
It's at my sister's place, butthat's a cherry pitter I have,
and I really do like it.
Anna, what pitter do you haveand do you love?
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (23:29):
So I have a Nor Pro as well, and then
I also have one called aVictoria.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (23:34):
I.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (23:35):
tools for canning, but nor Pro is
great.
The one thing that I do likeabout, cherry pitter like that
is that you can do a largeAmount of time.
it is still work.
It is one cherry at a time.
I am interested in purchasing.
(23:55):
It almost looks like a clamshell, and you can do six at a
time,
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (23:59):
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (24:00):
And there's a reservoir in the
bottom that catches the pit andthen you dump your cherries out
and then put another six And, myfriend got that this year, and
so I'm interested to talk to herto see it went If that took more
time or less time.
But yeah.
But I really like both of those,nor pro and Victoria.
(24:21):
Yeah, got mine at Smith andEdwards.
If you've been around for anyamount of time, you know that I
love Smith and Edwards.
It's a store here in northernUtah and South Jordan, Utah, and
they just have of canningsupplies, and that's where I got
mine.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (24:37):
So if you don't have a pitter and
you have a lot of cherries toprocess, I'll tell you what I
had to do.
That isn't the best method, butit is an effective method.
So I.
Washed and stemmed my cherriesand filled the pot with just
barely enough water to cover andI brought them to a simmer so
that they got very loose andsoft and I ladled them into the
(24:59):
hopper of my food mill, my Oxobrand food mill, which is like
bowl shaped.
And then I spun it around.
I used the plate that has thelargest holes and that
absolutely did pit all of thosecherries for me.
That's about as big of a objectthat, food mill can go over.
(25:23):
It was like driving over a dirtroad with a lot of rocks in the
road.
It was pretty elbow griefintensive, but it definitely
worked.
And I do not personally find joyin using a pairing knife to
carefully cut a cherry off ofthe pit.
I would rather not ever do that.
Maybe that would feel likemeditation to you.
You can do that if you'd like,but I,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (25:45):
much work.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2 (25:46):
some people like that kind of chore.
I don't.
And it's great if you do thatwould also work.
But that's what I used and itworked great.
The cherry syrup turned outdelicious.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (25:58):
So I finally saw your O XO, Oxo food
milk, I was like, oh, that's alot bigger than I thought
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (26:05):
Oh yeah,
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (26:07):
'cause in my head it's only a cup sized
bowl No, the Oxo brand food millman.
I should write a whole, I couldwrite a whole ode to the food
mill.
It's so useful and it's nevergoing to not work.
it's analog.
It comes apart.
It's easy to wash.
It's not gonna cut your fingerby accident.
(26:27):
It just has so many featuresthat I feel like are just very
handy, very user friendly.
mine was given to me by my otherfriend, Anna, at my baby shower
to make baby food and I haveused it so much more than for
using for baby food.
It's my canning superstar.
Love it.
So I'll include a link in theshow notes too.
(26:47):
We'll have links to the cherrypitter and the stackable
foldable crates I think so thatif you guys are.
Interested in looking at those?
We'll have'em in the show notes,there was one thing I wanted to
mention and that is, if you livein an area with tart cherries or
pie cherries, they are a lotsmaller than a sweet cherry.
(27:07):
And you might wonder, how can Ipit that?
Because a lot of times it's justalmost too small for my And I
saw somebody online.
of meditation, but he had hisgrandma's old hairpin and he was
taking pits out with an oldhairpin, and I thought, oh,
heaven, help you.
Like that is so tedious.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24- (27:29):
Yeah.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:30):
So if you love pie cherries, town.
But I just don't know I wanna dothat with my life.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-2025 (27:38):
I know I don't, but I do know that
some people like that.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:41):
for everyone.
I guess if you're just makinglike one pie, maybe it would be
perfect.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24 (27:48):
That's still so many.
That's four cups
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (27:50):
I guess that's four hours of your
life.
squadcaster-6f7b_1_06-24-202 (27:55):
It would take a long time.
You heard it here first, folks.
It would take a long time.
Maybe you want to do that, andif you, that's how your grandma
did it.
That might feel good.
So do what you want.
If you don't want to do that,you could use a food mill any
way that you get the fruit soft.
We'll make it so that you coulddo it with your fingers faster
than probably a hairpin if youcook them for soft first.
(28:17):
That sounds kind of mushy andyuck.
anna_1_06-24-2025_155616 (28:18):
thanks so much for joining us for this
episode.
We hope to see you next week.
And again, thank you so much forthe ratings and review that you
give our podcast and for joiningus on YouTube.
Hope you have a great week andhappy picking.
That's our show.
We don't want you to miss anepisode, so please be sure to
subscribe.
(28:39):
If you found this episodehelpful and informative, please
give our show a rating andreview.
It only takes a few seconds andit really helps our show grow.
Follow us on social media atSmart Home Canning and at the
domestic wildflower.
Email your preserving questionsto Perfectly Preserved
podcast@gmail.com and we will doour best to answer your
(29:00):
questions on the show.
Thanks so much for listening.
Stay tuned for our next episodereleased every week.
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