Examples of 18th Century Food Options: Fruits

 Background on Key People Mentioned

  1. Israel Acrelius (1714-1800): Lutheran clergyman and author from Sweden. Supported German Lutherans in Pennsylvania. Collector of Botanical, Zoological, and Geological Specimens.
  2. Thomas Budd (?) (1645-1687/8): Friend to William Penn and wrote a pamphlet entitled "Good Order Established in New Jersey." Passed away in Philadelphia.
  3. Pehr Kalm (1716-1779): Swedish botanist who conducted a natural history survey in North America from 1748-1751.

Apples

  1. Description
    1. Fresh from August-March
    2. Kept for Later Use: Loft; Dried; Sometimes in Sugar
    3. Said to be the "King of Fruits" in Colonial Pennsylvania
    4. Majority of Farms had an Apple Orchard
    5. Struggles for Apples
      1. War Losses
  2. Uses
    1. Hog Food
    2. Converted to Cider
    3. Apple Brandy
    4. Apple Butter
    5. Apple Dumplings
    6. Apple Pie
    7. Apple Stuffing
    8. Used with Sausages
    9. Apple Sauce
    10. Apple Tarts
    11. Apple Pudding
Blackberries (Wild)
  1. Description
    1. Fresh in August
    2. Kept for Later Use: Wine; Medicinal Preparations
    3. Recorded on Inventory of Native Fruits by Thomas Budd in 1685
  2. Use
    1. Wine 
    2. Medicine

Grapes (Wild) (Eaten Cooked or Preserved)

  1. Description
    1. Fresh from September-October
    2. Kept for Later Use: Wine
    3. High Early Expectations for Grapes to be used in Wine Making, but did not Materialize
  2. Use
    1. Wine

Peaches

  1. Description
    1. Fresh from August-September
    2. Kept for Later Use: In Sugar; Wine; Dried
    3. Wild Peaches very Prevalent in Areas around Philadelphia
    4. Native to Spain and Brought over to the New World
    5. Struggles for Peaches
      1. War Losses
  2. Use
    1. Hog Food
    2. Brandy
    3. Dried
    4. Marmalades

Problems with Insect Pests and Diseases

  1. Less of a Problem than Today, but Little was Done until after 1887
  2. Faulty Fruit Seen as Natural and Inevitable

Sources: Chadds Ford Historical Society's Guide Training Manual A-32-A-34; The Frugal Colonial Housewife p55, 99-100, 112, 115, 125, 127; The Backcountry Housewife 18, 52, 64-65, 77, 83-84, 87, 94-95, 97; The Pennsylvania Housewife 12, 48, 54, 116, 120, 140, 149; Pennsylvania Agriculture and Country Life: 1640-1840 205-225; PAST MASTERS NEWS Volume 1, Issue 3, p1-5 Volume 2, Issue 4, p4 (See Bibliography)

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