Andrea- I have a vague recollection of using lemon juice on my apple head dolls to prevent that darkening effect. Some I treated; others I let find their own varied tones.

Maggie- I'm drying halved paste-type tomatoes. I'll probably use many of them in soups and casseroles. They just take up too much space in my freezer. Likewise, I hope to dry some apple slices for pies and cobblers. I'll experiment this year and see what is most useful in a dried form. Some dried foods still benefit from freezing or refrigeration, so I still have some research to do.