Produce Briefs...
Orange Honeydew Melon
Oval-to-round and a delicious cross between a cantaloupe and a honeydew, the very fleshy juicy orangish-yellow pulp of the orange honeydew melon is encased in a hard very yellow matching rind.
Iceberg Lettuce
It is the only lettuce type that does not occur in red form as well as green. Iceberg is the given name to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods.
Current Facts
Italian "Prune" Plums AKA Empress plums, botanical name Prunica domestica, are a freestone fruit that are indeed the fruit that is responsible for prunes. Italian plums are considered a multi-purpose plum. Their ability to create a high concentration of fermentable sugars makes them the ideal candidate to create prunes. In addition to direct consumption, they are also a commercial fruit crop used for the processing industry of cheeses and distilled alcohols, including brandy and wine.
Description/Taste
The Italian plum is a petit, egg-shaped fruit with a deep purple, often powdered blueberry colored smooth thin skin and an amber lime green, tender firm and dense flesh full of rich, complex and appropriately confectionary sweet flavors that deepen as the fruit ripens. The fruit bears a large central inedible pit that is easily removed from the flesh. When cooked, the fruit's flesh turns fuchsia pink in color.
Applications
Although Italian plums are most often designated for drying to prune state, they are well suited for fresh eating, using as a dessert ingredient, processing into jam and preserve form and simply adding to sweet and savory salads. Complimentary sweet flavors include vanilla, nutmeg, tropical fruits, chocolate, butter and cream. Savory pairings include mild fresh cheeses such as chevre and ricotta, herbs such as arugula, citrus, chiles, fennel and basil, bacon, lamb and grilled seafood such as shrimp and scallops. Prunes can be paired with dates, fresh and dried figs, pistachios, ice cream, soaked in brandy, added to sauces and glazes for meats, paired with salad greens and fresh cheeses, and showcased in cakes, tarts and pastries. To store fresh Italian plums, refrigerate ripe fruit for up to one week. To store prunes, keep in an airtight container in cool, dry storage.
Geography/History
There are three different classifications of plums: Japanese, European and American. Italian plums are a Europen plum and native to the Mediterranean coastal regions of Italy. They thrive in arid climates where winter time temperatures are cool but not cold and the summer season is long, warm and dry. Though plums adapt to a wide variety of growing regions, growing seasons require minimal humidity and rainfall to prevent disease and encourage fruit development. Dried plums have ancient heritage, with origins in Western Asia in an area near the Caucasus Mountains bordering the Caspian Sea.
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Italian Prune Plums. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Boulder Locavore |
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Plum Rosemary-Gin Sorbet |
Recently Spotted
Someone spotted Italian Prune Plums using the Specialty Produce app for iPhone and Android.
Produce Spotting allows you to share your produce discoveries with your neighbors and the world! Is your market carrying green dragon apples? Is a chef doing things with shaved fennel that are out of this world? Pinpoint your location annonymously through the Specialty Produce App and let others know about unique flavors that are around them.
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North Park Produce Near San Diego, California, United States About 78 days ago Spotter's comments : Delicious plums right now. |
