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nafex - Re: [NAFEX] prune definition

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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.
Reddish-purple skin, dark amber flesh. Very sweet, high quality fruit
-dessert/can/dry. 800 hours. Self-fruitful.”

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
Sent: Thursday, September 18, 2008 3:29 PM
To: nafex@lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [NAFEX] prune definition

 

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.




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