Alan Haigh said, "One of the rarest fruits in the experience of Americans is
tree ripened European plums. You can't even find them at farm stands any
place I've lived because they're always picked too hard."
Alan,
Here in Minnesota, if the plums aren't hard, people won't buy them. If
plums are smaller than a Satsuma, people won't buy them. Our buying public
is so caught up with the way fruit is available in the grocery stores that
they expect farmers' market produce should be likewise. I cut down many of
my plum trees because there is no sale for small plums (Underwood, South
Dakota, Toka, Tecumseh, etc.). They will buy my Superior plums, but only if
they are hard.
When gray-haired ladies would ask what to do with (small) plums, I used
to suggest, "Make jam," to which they would scoff saying, "Oh, my grandma
used to do that."
I don't sell at farmers' markets anymore and I here that things are
slowly changing. I hear that folks will actually buy a tomato that has a
blemish now.
Jim Fruth
Brambleberry Farm
Pequot Lakes, MN 56472
For jams, jellies & syrups:
www.bberryfarm.com
(877)265-6856 [Store]
(218)831-7018 [My Cell]