| Food and drink specialities |
|
 The perfect Prune > Plum picking: no more monkey-business!
 |
Ready for drying ( :J.M.-CDT47) |
+ |
The historical method of allowing fruit to ripen and drop before gathering has disappeared.
Today, most dried plum production is harvested by machine.
A mechanical shaker takes hold of a main limb or the trunk (a fabric catching frame is spread under the tree) and in a matter of seconds the fruit is shaken off the tree and transferred into bins which carry the fruit to the dehydrator.
In 1905, a labour shortage in California resulted in farmers turning to monkeys to harvest dried plums.
Drying
Immediately after the harvesting, the orchard-ripe fruit is taken to the dehydration area.
After washing, the fruit is dried on wide wooden trays. This is where three pounds of fresh fruit become one pound of dried plums. |
