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Dry Ideas | |
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Dry Ideas was created in 1996 as an innovative fruit drying company. It is owned and operated by two professionals who have combined their complimentary skills. Dr Gordon Brown has a PhD in postharvest horticulture and has been an active postharvest researcher with Government, industry and Universities and his wife, Jane, has a degree based on food science and human nutrition. Both owners have over 25 years of experience in their respective fields. Dry Ideas has been developing their preservative free dried cherries, apricots and green tea for the past 15 years and have been marketing these products into gourmet retail shops as well as the catering and food service industry over this period. As a by product of our dried fruit we have developed a range of delicious fruit wines. We have been delighted to be rewarded for our efforts, gaining recognition and medals at the Australian Fruit Wine Show. The key behind the success of the Dry Ideas process is in the use of modern technologies, often reproduced from research publications, and a highly controlled processing environment. To this end, in addition to an infusion process, Dry Ideas uses a computer controlled cold temperature drying process that it has developed to optimise flavour and colour retention without the use of chemicals. This system monitors a variety of dryer conditions, such as temperature, humidity and water output, and adjusts the drying conditions to ensure success. Through this process a dried fruit is produced that has an excellent appearance and shelf life without the addition of sulphur. Advantages of fruit dried without sulphur In modern societies there is a growing interest in healthy and environmentally friendly life styles. This is evident in popularity and rapid expansion of health centres and gymnasiums. Increasingly consumers are seeking tasty and healthy natural food alternatives which have been minimally processed and are environmentally friendly. Most unsulphured apricots are dark coloured and unacceptable in a market place accustomed to bright coloured dried fruit. Dry Ideas fruit are moist, flavoursome and have the pleasing natural colour and flavour of real apricots. As many people have allergic reactions (eg. asthma and eczema) to preserving agents such as sulphur, it is a desire of Dry Ideas to produce products without these preservatives making them ideal for sensitive people and the health conscious community. Other problems due to sulphur consumption range from stomach ache to hives and anaphylactic shock. Health issues aside there is also a trend away from sulphur treated fruit as many consumers do not like the metallic flavour of sulphur treated fruit and sulphur free processes are more acceptable to consumers with organic production preferences. All our products are processed without sulphur or other preservatives. Unlike most grape wines our fruit wines can also be enjoyed safely by those avoiding these additives. |
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