Ever wonder how many pounds of various fruits and vegetables are in a bushel? Apparently this was considered important for cooks to know a hundred years ago because it was on page 10 of the 1922 edition of the Good Housekeeping cookbook.
Now that I think about it, when was the last time I bought a bushel of anything? . . . . hmm, maybe I bought a bushel of apples 3 or 4 years ago.
A Hundred Years Ago 
I can remember produce being sold by the bushel, especially since we lived in a farming area and were always able to buy right from the farmers. As a newlywed, while living in CT, we decided to freeze corn. My husband went to the farm to get a bushel of corn and they threw in a second free bushel. All I can say is that was a lot of corn and we actually froze it all.
It all makes sense… The pandemic changed lots of things but until then I always bought apples from the orchard by the bushel! Since the orchard closed, I have to purchase in lesser quantities…
In autumn, most years we pick a bushel of apples and peaches to make applesauce and jam. Other than that, I’ve never bought a bushel of anything!
When my children were all home I used to buy apples and peaches by the bushel. With just me and my husband and no freezing or canning going on, just enough fruit to last a week or two when it’s local
I think women of that day did more canning and in later years freezing than we do now. When fruits and vegetables were in season buying in large quantities provided produce to eat then and preserve for later. Our buying preferences have changed!
Interesting. My mom used a bushel basket for her laundry:)
Wonder why they wanted to know the weight…. Maybe so they would know they had a bushel?
That is a lot of pounds!
This is helpful.
We use a traditional unit over bushel in our country called “Kharman”, a kharman equals about 10 bushel.