Preserving perishable goods had always been a problem that could not be overcome. Beginning in the late 18th Century, with Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquest through Europe, a new found need for easy access to unspoiled food spawned. Napoleon needed a way to provide food for his armies far from home. Again, out of necessity came innovation. Nicholas Appert, a Frenchman, devised the idea to store agricultural products in sealed cans that could be easily transported to Napoleon’s army, and received a reward of 12000 Francs for doing so. Shortly after, in 1819, the idea spread to America where a new industry was born. Canned goods in these times were somewhat unreliable, and their use was not realized in America until the Civil War. But the industry was born, and there were innovations to be made.
Canning provided a much less cumbersome way to transport preserved goods than Thomas Moore’s and subsequent refrigerators. They became important as westward expansion became prevalent, allowing easy access to food along the trails to the west. Even more significant was the use of canned foods for armies, both in the North and South during the Civil War, as previously mentioned. The early canning industry provided the cornerstone for innovations that have led to the mass available preserved goods that we enjoy today.
Sources:
1. http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-packaging-and-canning
2. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_LQr8XKII
1956 Documentary on the food canning industry up to that point:
Canning provided a much less cumbersome way to transport preserved goods than Thomas Moore’s and subsequent refrigerators. They became important as westward expansion became prevalent, allowing easy access to food along the trails to the west. Even more significant was the use of canned foods for armies, both in the North and South during the Civil War, as previously mentioned. The early canning industry provided the cornerstone for innovations that have led to the mass available preserved goods that we enjoy today.
Sources:
1. http://www.answers.com/topic/history-of-packaging-and-canning
2. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F_LQr8XKII
1956 Documentary on the food canning industry up to that point: