Fruit and your health

Here at Solarfruit we take the best, tree ripened fruit we can find and transform it into a convenient and healthy snack for you and your children.

Our fruit bars are made from real, fresh fruit and are nut free, dairy free, gluten free, 99% fat free, and have no added colours or flavours. Since 1994, we have sought out the juiciest, and the best quality fruit grown in the pure and abundant orchard valleys of Donnybrook in Western Australia’s south west.

The quality of the fresh fruit is truly reflected in the quality of our products, which is why we are so particular about sourcing the best quality fresh fruit. When you mention dried fruit, most people think of fruit halves in apricots and pears, or whole fruits such as prunes and figs. At Solarfruit, we take the whole fruit and put it through a large pulping machine which removes the seed. We then sun-dry this fresh fruit pulp.

Of the four flavours we produce, plum is by far the most popular. Although people are more familiar with dried apricots, our plum variety opens up a whole new world of taste sensations for them, because it really does make the best dried fruit.

Taste the Solarfruit difference for yourself and find out why these healthy fruit bars really are the healthier choice for you and your family. If you have someone in your family who must follow a strictly gluten free diet, we also recommend you visit the gluten free website.

Nectarine

Fresh nectarines are a good source of Vitamin C and fibre. When canned however, these are slightly reduced but the energy content is greatly increased. When dry, it loses the vitamin C and rises in fibre content. But no matter how you eat it, it is still tasty and good for you!

History

Native to China, the nectarine made its way to Europe via Persian traders. Originally the flesh of the fruit was white but crossbreeding with the peach over time has resulted in a larger fruit with a firmer body and the familiar yellow or pink flesh. There are two types of nectarine, Freestone and Clingstone, relating to the stone of the fruit, and there are many varieties within each type. As the names suggest, Freestone nectarines have stones that are easier to remove from the flesh than that of the Clingstone. The Clingstone varieties are red around the stone and tend to have a stronger flavour. When dried, the Freestone varieties are golden coloured and the Clingstone varieties are darker.

Plum

Not only does the plum contain a good source of energy and some Vitamin C, it also has Vitamin E, which is quite unusual for a fruit. But these are just some of the plum’s many attractive qualities.

History

Believed to have originated in the region south of the Caucasus Mountains, the plum is actually the stone fruit of a deciduous tree related to the rose. California is the world’s largest producer of plums, more than 75% of the world quota. Australia also cultivates great tasting plums, particularly the Tegan Blue variety which is excellent when dried.

Peach

This delicious ‘queen of fruits’ is an excellent serving of energy, Vitamins A and C as well as tasting great. Although the older varieties tended to be quite “hairy”, the varieties available today have much smoother skin. The peach is easy to serve, and like apricots, has a fantastic flavour when dried.

History

Originally from China like the nectarine and apricot, it is thought to have reached Europe via the Persian silk route, arriving around the time of Christ. It was introduced to Latin America by the Spanish voyagers and was cultivated in England by the time of Queen Elizabeth I. Today, many countries produce peaches for export and many more for local consumption, as it is a popular and delicious fruit. The largest producers are the United States of America and Italy.

Apricot

Apricots are a good strong source of energy for kids, and their great taste means you’ll never have trouble convincing kids to eat them! Apricots are a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin C and dietary fibre.

History

The apricot is native to China and can be found in Chinese documents as far back as 2000 BC! It made its way to Europe through the Middle East and the Romans, who found it an attractive fruit for their monastery gardens (the precursors to orchards). With it’s strong, distinctive flavour, the apricot is most suited to baking, glazing and drying. It is the most widely spread of dried fruits.

Nutrition

Because of our superior and unique sun-drying process, the potassium metabisulphite (preservative E224) is used only once in our process and therefore results in astonishingly low residuals of sulphur dioxide in the finished product:

Residual sulphur dioxide 0.009% or 90 ppm (ppm = parts per million)

Other dried fruit brands can have up to 5000 ppm in their dried fruit halves.
Our sun-dried process creates a stronger sense of flavour, negating the need for artificial additions that other companies might use and Solarfruit guarantees that all our products contain a minimum of 98% fresh fruit.

Typical Analysis: Per 100 gms, Per Serve (10 gms)

All values are considered averages.

IRON

Combines with haemoglobin and myoglobin, which are necessary for the transportation of oxygen to the muscles through the blood. Also occurs in some enzymes responsible for energy production. Anaemia (iron deficiency) often causes tiredness.

Recommended Daily Intake

Children: 6 – 8 mg

Teenagers: 10 – 13 mg

Men: 5 – 7 mg

Women: 12 – 16 mg

Women (55+): 7 mg

Niacin

Essential for the production of energy in body tissues and is also needed for the production of fatty acids. Niacin is also produced by the body.

Recommended Daily Intake

Children: 11 mg

Teenage Boys: 21 mg

Teenage Girls: 18 mg

Men: 18 mg

Women: 12 mg

Vitamin A

Found in fruit as beta carotene, Vitamin A is linked to the formation of visual purple for night vision. Also necessary for normal growth and reproduction, and the linings of respiratory and intestinal tracts which help prevent infections.

Recommended Daily Intake

Children: 300 µg

Children (8-12): 500 µg

Teenagers: 725 µg

Adults: 750 µg

Vitamin C

Improves absorption of iron, suppresses formation of some carcinogens and is essential for production of some hormones and amino acids. Pregnancy, oral contraceptives and smoking raise the recommended intake level as well as injury or surgery. Lack of Vitamin C results in scurvy.

Recommended Daily Intake

Children: 30 mg

Teenagers: 30 mg

Men: 40 mg

Women: 30 mg

Vitamin E

Antioxidant properties in maintaining the walls of the cell by protecting the fats in the cell wall. Combined with selenium (found in cereals and seafood) and Vitamin C, it scavenges free radicals, which can be cancer causing.

Recommended Daily Intake

Children: 6 mg

Teenage Girls: 9 mg

Teenage Boys: 11 mg

Men: 10 mg

Women (55+): 7 mg