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Subject: North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio
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- From: "Stephen Sadler" <Docshiva@Docshiva.org>
- To: "'North American Fruit Explorers'" <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [NAFEX] prune definition
- Date: Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:18:41 -0700
Alan, Living in California’s Central Valley, where the prune
industry is centered, and hearing prune farmers refer to themselves as prune
farmers, may have led me to have a different understanding of the usage than
you do. But, as you asked, I turned to “people who are
knowledgeable about fruit than the general population,” and did a quick
search of trade references what that fresh stone fruit grown to produce dried
prunes is called. Sources are the Prune Bargaining Association and
California Farm Bureau, growers, and farm reporters. There’s also
the CA Prune and Apricot Growers Association and UC Davis, who both use the
word “prune” to mean “fresh-plum-grown-to-be-later-dried,”
but you already rejected a UC Davis reference along with dictionary
definitions. There was one frequent reference to the product as plums
rather than prunes – the growers association decided a couple years ago
that the dry product be commercially sold as “dried plums” rather
than prunes. But I note that nobody called them dried plums in these
references – that term seems reserved for marketing. I don’t think you’re wrong about usage; your
usage is fine, common, and understood; but I’m not convinced that
it’s universal. I’m afraid I remain under the impression that
there are many people who refer to fresh prunes as fresh prunes, such as commercial
prune farmers. I don’t think they’re wrong in their use
anymore than I think you’re wrong in yours. You may very well
continue to think that they, the dictionaries, and the nurseries are wrong, which
is okay with me - but please take it up with them. I’m sure, if you
still feel that I’m mistaken, you can see how I had been misled. Here, rightly or wrongly phrased, are the references I found
to the names-of-the-fresh-plums-grown-to-be-later-dried: “A weather-beaten California prune industry has shriveled
to a production low not seen since World War I” “prices for raw prunes are expected to spike to record
highs, following what might be the smallest commercial prune harvest in
California history.” “California
Prune Farmers Take Action to Enhance Quality & California's Competitive
Advantage” “After two short crops in a row, California prune
farmers are optimistic” ““Hand pruning and mechanical thinning are used
to renew fruit wood and manage the crop load,” explained Thompson. “In
California, growers have direct access to the most advanced and most sought
after horticultural resources in the world. These resources and years of
practical experience translate to the production of the best quality prunes in
the world. You can taste the difference.”” “The Prune Bargaining Association was formed in 1968 as
a grower-owned cooperative to improve the economy of the California prune
industry” “the Integrated Prune Farming Practices Decision
Guide written by UC ANR specialists, farm advisors, and faculty and
published in May, 2004” “FRENCH IMPROVED PRUNE California's commercial prune. “US prune farmers facing
shortfall” “Prune growers hoping for better
times this year” “The official state
estimate forecasts a California prune crop of 120,000 tons, about 20,000 tons
short of a normal crop. Earlier in the spring, favorable weather conditions
during bloom boosted expectations for a good crop after last year’s
meager harvest of 81,000 tons” “favorable weather conditions during bloom boosted
expectations for a good crop after last year’s meager harvest for prune
farmers.” There are many, many, many more, which you could find
yourself. ~Stephen From: nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:nafex-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Alan Haigh I find the fact that several dictionaries include a
definition of prunes as plums that can be dried surprising. My
understanding of the definition of prunes as exclusively plums that have been
dried does not come simply from local usage but from extensive reading of
literature related to commercial fruit growing where I have no memory of
encountering this usage. I have not encountered this usage in any of the
many catalogues of commercial and home orchard nurseries that I frequently
read. How about other members? I don't quite trust my memory on
this. I'm much more interested in the usage and understanding of people who are
knowledgeable about fruit than the general population. Dictionaries, of
course, are not. |
-
[NAFEX] prune definition,
Alan Haigh, 09/18/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, John S, 09/18/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Douglas Woodard, 09/18/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Ginda Fisher, 09/18/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar, 09/19/2008
-
Re: [NAFEX] prune definition,
Stephen Sadler, 09/19/2008
-
Re: [NAFEX] prune definition,
Mark Angermayer, 09/19/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Stephen Sadler, 09/19/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Steve, 09/19/2008
-
Re: [NAFEX] prune definition,
Mark Angermayer, 09/19/2008
- <Possible follow-up(s)>
-
[NAFEX] prune definition,
Alan Haigh, 09/21/2008
- Re: [NAFEX] prune definition, Stephen Sadler, 09/22/2008
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