Method and apparatus for producing a fruit product

Abstract

An apparatus and method for producing a fruit product from a fruit, the fruit including soluble fruit components. The method for producing a fruit product, the fruit product including soluble fruit components, extracts a desired amount of the soluble fruit components from the fruit and infuses the extracted fruit with an infusion liquid having an amount of sugar and an amount of soluble fruit components, the amount of soluble fruit components formulated to diffuse a predetermined amount of the soluble fruit components remaining in the extracted fruit into the infusion liquid. The apparatus comprises a tank having a top opening, a sidewall, a bottom, and a bottom opening; the top opening of the tank being larger in size than the bottom opening of the tank; first piping disposed within the tank, the first piping allowing fluids to disperse around the circumference of the tank; second piping disposed within the tank, the second piping allowing fluids to disperse over the top opening of the tank; and a stirring arm disposed within the tank, the stirring arm capable of circulating the contents of the tank.

1 . A cranberry fruit product produced from a cranberry, the cranberry including soluble fruit components, the cranberry fruit product comprising: 
 a well-defined cranberry piece produced by extraction from the cranberry of a desired amount of the soluble fruit components, such amount being in the range from substantially 35% to substantially 80% by weight, and infusion of sugar into the cranberry under conditions so as to retain at least 35% of the soluble fruit components in the cranberry and so that the cranberry fruit product produced mimics the appearance and taste of the cranberry.