Approximate Yields for Canned Fruits

How much fruit do you need to fill a jar? Here’s a handy chart from the Georgia State Department of Agriculture that helps answer that question.

Modifications made: Added metric equivalents. For rough canning estimations, one pound (lb) was roughly assumed to be 500 g. As a very rough rule of thumb in metric, you can assume that a 1 litre jar will hold roughly 1 kg of fruit.

Approximate Yields for Canned Fruits

Raw Product	Measure and Weight	Litre / US Quart Jars	Weight lbs / kg Needed for Litre / US Quart Jar
Apples	1 bu. (48 lb / 24 kg)	16-20	2½-3 (approx 1 kg)
Apples (for sauce)	1 bu. (48 lb / 24 kg)	15 - 18	2½-3½ (approx 1 kg)
Apricots	1 lug (24 lb / 12 kg)	9 - 12	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Berries (except strawberries and cranberries)	24 qt crate (36 lb / 18 kg)	12 - 18	1½-3 lbs / approx 1 kg / 1-2 qt. boxes
Cantaloupes	1 crate (60 lb / 27 kg)		1 large melon per jar
Cherries	1 bu. (56 lb / 18 kg)	22 - 32 (unpitted)	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Cherries (with stems)	1 lug (box) (15 lb.)	6 - 7 (unpitted)	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Cranberries	1 bu. (100 lb / 50 kg)	100	1 lb (approx ½ kg)
Cranberries	1 box (25 lb / 12 kg)	25	1 lb (approx ½ kg)
Figs	1 box (6 lb / 3 kg)	2 - 3	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Grapes	1 bu. (48 lb / 24 kg)	10 - 12	4 (approx 1 ¾ kg)
Grapes Western	1 lug (28 lb / 14 kg)	7 - 8	4 (approx 1 ¾ kg)
Grapes Eastern	12 qt basket (18 lb / 9 kg)	3 - 4	4 (approx 1 ¾ kg)
Grapes Eastern	4 qt. basket (6 lb / 3 kg)	1	4 (approx 1 ¾ kg)
Grapefruit (Texas & Florida)	1 bag or ½ box (40 lb / 18 kg)	5 - 8	4 to 6 fruits per jar
Grapefruit (California)	1 box (65 lb / 30 kg)	8 - 13	4 to 6 fruits per jar
Nectarines	flat (18 lb / 8 kg)	6 - 9	2-3 (approx 1 kg)
Peaches	1 bu. (50 lb / 25 kg)	19 - 25	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Pears	1 bu. (50 lb / 25 kg)	20 - 25	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Pears	1 box (46 lb / 23 kg)	19 - 23	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Pears	1 crate (22 lb / 11 kg)	8 - 11	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Pineapples (with tops)	1 crate (70 lb / 35 kg)	20 - 28	2-2½ (approx 1 kg / 2 fruits)
Plums	1 crate (70 lb / 35 kg)	28 - 35	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Plums	1 bu. (56 lb / 28 / kg)	24 - 30	2-2½ (approx 1 kg)
Rhubarb	15 lbs / 7 kg	7 - 11	2 lbs (approx 1 kg)
Strawberries	24 qt. crate (36 lb / 18 kg)	12-16	6 to 8 cups ( 48 to 64 oz / 1 ½ to 2 litres)
Tomatoes	1 bu. (53 lb / 26 kg)	15-20	2½-3½ (approx 1 kg)
Tomatoes	1 crate (60 lb / 30 kg)	17-23	2½-3½ (approx 1 kg)
Tomatoes	1 lug (32 lb / 15 kg)	9-12	2½-3½ (approx 1 kg)
Tomatoes (for juice)	1 bu. (53 lb / 26 kg)	12-16	3-3½ (approx 1.5 kg)
Tomatoes (for juice)	1 crate (60 lb / 30 kg)	17-20	3-3½ (approx 1.5 kg)
Tomatoes (for juice)	1 lug (32 lb / 16 kg)	8-10	3-3½ (approx 1.5 kg)

Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation Self-Study Course  ^[1] Preserving Food at Home Self Study Course. Accessed March 2015. and So Easy to Preserve, 2014 edition, page 12.

bu. = bushel

qt = US quart

lb = pound