North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jfruth@tds.net>]

Ernest Plutko wrote:  "I see beach plum trees Prunus Maritima for sale.  Do 
these have a
good taste and are they worth buying?  I'm wondering if they will
survive inland far from the shore"

Ernest,
   Here, at Brambleberry Farm, we get visitors from the New England area 
asking for Beach Plum Jelly.  Apparently they think Beach Plum grows 
everywhere - 99% of the jelly we sell is from Minnesota fruit.  Several of 
these would-be customers have said that when they walk into a gift shop at 
Martha's Vineyard, they ask for Beach Plum Jelly.  If that store doesn't 
have it, they buy nothing and go to another store.
   So I found some Beach Plums and made some jelly.  We were underwhelmed. 
Nothing special.  We wonder what all the fuss is about.  It is good but 
after tasting so many jellies, most 'berries' taste like.............most 
other 'berries'.  Compare that to some of our other jellies that have a 
flavor that 'comes out and grabs you.'
   Trouble is, we can't sell them a great tasting jelly unless we have 
Beach Plum jelly too (We sell 4 for $18.75).  So, I found some bare-root 
Beach Plum seedlings.  We bought them from the New Hampshire Department of 
Conservation and planted them here in North Central Minnesota.  Alot of 
folks told me they wouldn't survive here - We lost four out of 25 and expect 
out first crop of fruit in 2008.
   Most of what we plant here survives.  Testament to that are Black 
Raspberry, Boysenberry, Mulberry, a few others and now, Beach Plum.

Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN  56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]