Now the apricots are ready – they are in the dryer

Summer fruits have started. How wonderful to have apricots ready to eat, to stew for bottling and freezing and drying. I have a new solar dehydrator with four shelves and it is full of apricots and cumquat slices. Then there will be plums, peaches, figs, tomatoes and basil.

How much can I dry to keep the fruit supply going all year? I have made a promise to not buy any canned fruit and I have kept it for one year. Also only seasonal fruit from South Australia. Drying fruit helps to give variety otherwise it is apples and pears from Adelaide Hills and citrus from the Riverland for much of the year.

Best wishes for the coming season and a busy time with fresh, ripe fruit.