Apple Cider Press/Grinder Geared To Small Orchards

Apple Cider Press/Grinder Geared To Small Orchards FARM HOME Food If you have a small orchard or U-Pick apple operation Gerald Simons has a cider press for you Frustrated with the small hand presses available and not having enough apples for a commercial press Simons designed an “in-between” one that he’s now building for sale “Most commercial presses require a minimum of hundreds of bushels ” says Simons “Mine will handle about a bushel of apples in 10 min At an average of 3 1/2 gal of cider per bushel I can press out 20 to 25 gal of cider per hour You can also use it with berries grapes and tomatoes ” Simons designed his machine to be a one-man operation The wheeled machine can be used anywhere with electric power It’s also simple and low maintenance “When you’re done with mine clean it out throw a tarp over it and forget about it until next spring ” says Simons While Simons’ cider press is made from food grade materials in most states you can’t sell raw cider as produced with his press You can however still turn cider making into a profit center “One of my customers with a small orchard sells people the apples and then charges them to use the press to make their own cider ” says Simons “He’ll make money from the apples from the press and from selling them jugs for their cider ” The most complex part of the machine is the apple processor It’s a long chute with a set of 20 Skil saw blades at the bottom They are separated by 135/1000-in shims just enough to let the apple pulp and juice fall through into a plastic 5-gal pail “When the apples hit those blades they practically explode into juice and particles the size of creamed corn kernels ” says Simons “You can pour apples in about as fast as you want and the 1/2 hp motor won’t slow down ” Safety is important to Simons He designed the chute to curve so it’s physically impossible to get your hand to the blades A kill switch disconnects the motor if the chute is removed As apples are pulped they move to Simons’ unique barrel press which rotates within its stand for easy loading and emptying The complete unit apple processor and press is available with pneumatic drive $2 850 MSRP or a manual $2 250 MSRP design Simons builds his cider presses himself in groups of five If none are in stock it may be two weeks before one can be shipped Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Gerald Simons 570 Green Acres Lane Bosque Farms New Mexico 87068 ph 505 869-6553 or 855 869-6553; applesandwinepress@yahoo com; www appleandwinepress com

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