White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1916-09-08
Facts About the
Prune Industry

Like great many other products
grown in the United States, and espe-
cially in California, the meek and
lowly prune has it's romantic side.
Prior to the year 1870, France was the
greatest prune producing country on
the globe, in fact, it was practically
the only country where the prune-
growing industry had attained any
magnitude in commercial way.
Along about this time, however, an
adventurous Frenchman Of the name
of Peller, set sail for the land of the
free" settling eventually in Califor,
mia. He brought with him single
prune tree, which he planted in his
yard, simply as a perpetual reminder
of his home in sunny France, provid-
ing it took root and thrived, and with
out any thought that he was destined
to go down in history as the pioneer
in one Of the greatest industries on
the Pacific Coast, il not the whole
country.
TIE took good care of the lone speci-
men and was delighted to observe that
it responded to the hot, dry climate of
California. From this humble begin
ming the big prune-growing industry
Of California was born, later to spread
further north into Oregon and some
parts Of Washington. From Monsieur
Peller's one lonely prune tree has
grown the present enormous prune-
growing business of California, with
thousands Of acres devoted to the fruit
under cultivation and a production of
from 150,000000 to 200,000,000 pounds
annually.
The United States no longer depends
upon European countries for it's sup
ply of prunes, but as a matter of fact
ships tremendous quantities Of the
fruit to many foreign nations each
year, among the countries taking the
American product being Canada, Eng
land, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Aus
tralia, Denmark and Norway We
still import some fine quality of prunes
from France, but in lessening volume
every year.
There Is considerable difference in
the methods employed by the French
and the American prune growers in
preparing the fruit for market In
France the finest grades are picked
by hand and placed in dry place I'M
til they become soft, when they are
then placed on sieves and shut in spent
ovens. They are left there for "a
hours, but are put back after the ovens
have been reheated.
This process is repeated several
times, the fruit being turned by shak-
ing the sieves, after which they are
taken from the ovens and allowed to
cool. This drying process by the
French method, Is one that requires
a high degree Of skill and determines
the quality of the fruit. When thor
oughly dried, the prunes are then vir-
tually ready for market, being packed
in cans, tin boxes or glass jars, which
are sealed. Some packers use harm
less pigment to give dark appear
ance to the fruit, while others use a
coating of gycerine in order to retain
the moisture.
In California as well as in other
prune-growing coast states, the prunes
are allowed to fall from the trees when
dead ripe in order to secure the great
est sugar content. They are then CIV
Ch DOth INV anu Wy lAhlCl oiOHD anu
then dried in the sun as substitute
for the oven-drying Of the French. 1t
Is claimed that sun.drying is the nat
ural method Of drying prunes and Is
therefore preferable to the French
method.
1t can be said that the Pacific Coast
prune growers have far outstripped
the older prune-growing nations in
scientific cultivation of the fruit as
well as in preparing the prunes for
market. Special machinery has been
evolved for the industry whereby prep
aration and packing has been greatly
facilitated and the quality Of the fruit
improved.
California prunes are subject to a
sterilizing process, for instance, which
effectually process all bacterial life,
giving guarantee Of purity. The
California prune has worldwide rep
utation for flavor, the soil and climate
being apparently ideal for the cultiva-
tion of the fruit The prunes are
graded into 10 principal sizes-20 to
30, 80 to 40, 40 to so, 80 to so, go to 70
to the pound, and SO on, the product
Of from five pounds and upward
The prune has high food value, be-
ing rich in protein and sugar; 1t also
Is valuable as laxative and has other
medicinal virtues or mild sort.
While the funny men" Of the press
have poked fun at the prune, 1t can be
said that it Is today one Of the great
American staples and o food that Is
deserving of the highest respect.
AS a matter Of fact, prunes have out
grown any prejudice that may have
been engendered against them through
ridicule and ignorance concerning
their actual food value and have taken
their rightful place as an appetizing
and nourishing food product. This can
rightfufly be ascribed to the methods
employed by the promoters Of the in
CO. Granulated FyeIidS.