finally comes the hard clusters of plump ripe juicy prunes hanging purple in the s here is one fruit with which nature has been allowed to complete her for ripening process california prunes hang in the sunshine until so plump and heavy that they actually drop from the trees of their own way there is no question here of harvesting on ripened fruit for nature herself has set the time for h from the cleansing by the fruit is spread on trays which are automatically stacked prior to being placed in the hydrated for the curing process much of this automatic equipment was developed by engineers employed by the sons we in reality the prunes at this stage are still fresh plums when the most generous been removed in the plums have been properly dried then they are prune all prone to plums but all plums are not prone to are a very special variety of plums that can be dried without fermenting and in a very real sense they are not prunes until they have been dried to remove the most or the stacks of filled trays are then placed in the dehydrat modern improvement of former dry here under carefully controlled conditions of temperature and humidity the prawns are perfectly cured in from eighteen to twenty four when the curing process has been completed the trays are removed from the dehydrator the prunes are taken from the trays and fed through a conveyor into a large bit so here during a short period they undergo a sweating process which equalize at the packing of us each bin is weighed and recorded to the credit prunes to a greater where they're automatically sorted by side to facilitate the passage of the prunes over the greater this machine mechanically spreads the prunes evenly along it's like and constant check on the accuracy of the grading is maintained by an operator who frequently weighs sample lots and physically counts the number of the prunes fall from the greater into large bins each bin containing grooms of the same size the bins are taken by left or up to a storage area where the prunes remain until required for processing and package shape and balance the trees in order to encourage the maximum crop and will offer cultivation beneath pruning stimulates the growth of fruit bearing wood and keeps the tops of the trees in proportion to the root develop when the trees are dormant they are sprayed to prevent fungus and to control insect spraying is done with high pressure equipment to a highly scientific and exacting process it must be done at the right time with the correct materials and with the utmost or as here you see one of the most recent development and spraying equipment the speed sprayer it is used for fast thorough work on large trees and on large acreage every part of every tree must be h back in the packing house the fruit already grated is taken from storage and spread on b these carry the fruit past lines of gloved operate here son sweet prunes receive a thorough and careful inspection to make certain that only the highest quality f after inspection the fruit is passed through a continuous flow of hot water in an ingenious  before the prunes are packaged didn't visible bags or cartons they are again thoroughly heated with boiling water this cleanses and sterilize the fruit and makes it easier to pack it is at this point that sun sweet prunes get the special tenderized treatment that make them quicker cooking and better eating this process employs only heat and moisture scientifically applied nothing is added to the fruit nothing is taken away after been tenderized they receive another inspection by gloved operators just before they drop through the stainless steel chute which carries them to the packaging line science plays no small part in the processing of prunes in the laboratory the fruit is continually checked for tenderness quality and sugar content the laboratory is not only concerned with the proof itself but new packaging materials are continually tested and new technical processes to improve the good keeping qualities are under constant study every step of the progress of the fruit from orchard to packet it's subject to continuous meantime the cartons are being prepared automatic machines open shape and line the cartons and send them on in a continuous li as the cartons move on an endless belt they're filled automatically the freshly processed prunes are hard packed in these cartons to ensure uniform quality of the operators remove them from the belt and add or take away prunes to obtain the correct way the cartons travel along the fruit is gently and automatically pressed down to proper level the cartons now go to the ceiling machine where the top is closed and seal then the foil wrappers applied and also sealed tight thus three fold protection is provided for the fruit first by the carton interline or next by the carton shell itself and third by the insulating aluminum foil wrapped here they come gleaming foil sealed cartons of top quality california proof packed in cases and ready to be shipped to the markets of the world the fruit starts its journey by truck by rail grown ups energy more prone pie attempting healthful dessert weapons another famous american desh the perfect dessert for a perfect meal here is another tree seven day prune it gathers moisture as it stands and keeps for a full week without loss of life started out to find that bench he came to california to seek his fortune to hunt or go but it was the courage determination and foresight of the man to bring the french prune from the old world to the new world into old trucks and that was the great adventure after all two trunks and a man if somehow today lois police could be called from his forgotten grave and reunited with his trunks he would find it in following the call it was heard around the world gold in california he had been a success a success far be on this on the street for the prone industry which he established soon began to pour a golden flood into the state which continues today long after the gold rush of forty nine to pour its golden millions into california riches from the soil that not only sustain thousands of happy prosperous farm families in the fertile valleys of the state but enrich the diet and add to the good eating of fruit loving families around the world