Sourcing and Chopping Dried Fruits

[susiew]

Hi,

I am going to try making a large amount of compote, made only with unsulphured dried fruit and nuts from California. Do you know of a good single source to purchase this wholesale?

And do you know of the best way to chop up dried fruit? Food processors seem to make it into a paste too quickly and by hand is, well, too painful to even think about!

Thanks for any and all advice.

Susie

[joancassell]

I like the dried fruit from www.bellaviva.com. I think they have nuts as well. The quality is excellent, the price seems fair, and you can get whatever you need.

I just looked at the site and they seem to have some fruit already diced. If they don't have what you want, try scissors.

They're not wholesale, however.

[JeanneCake]

If they don't have what you want, try scissors.

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It goes a little easier if you spray non-stick spray on the blades of a knife or the scissors.

[andiesenji]

For coarsely chopping, I use a large mezaluna on a large cutting board or sometimes on the butcherblock countertop.

However, I first soften the fruit - and I do not soak it, I steam it. I have one of the multi-level steamers which do a great job without a lot of mess. Softening the fruit this way makes is a much easier task.

For some very tough fruits with significant fibers (some figs, pineapple, mango, etc.) I use a meat grinder with the largest die opening.

[tmgrobyn]

I would try Casa de Fruita to purchase California dried fruits. They will have a good selection at a good price. We have used their fruit before and really have appreciated the quality. They also have a good selection of nuts.

A second alternative to Casa de Fruit is Torn Ranch. They have really high quality fruits and nuts and will offer the best you can buy. However, their price will reflect it. I especially enjoy their dried pears and apricots. Best there is.

There is also Davis Lewis dried fruit company, but their product line is more of a mass market level and not as high quality as I like (more of a bottom tier in my opinion). I'd say try Hadley's in Cabazon, but they've changed vendors and are buying all their stuff from Davis Lewis. Not nearly as good as they used to be.

The mezzaluna is probably your best choice unless you have one of those herb rollers they sell on tv (and the cooking spray is a great idea!). Scissors are a great second choice. You are correct in your assessment of the maceration of a food processor; too much power to quickly and then you've got paste instead of fruit!

Good luck in your search and with your project.

(p.s. I don't work for any of these firms, just in the business itself)