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{{otheruses1|the fruit}}
A '''prune''' is a [[dried fruit]] of various [[plum]] species, mostly ''Prunus domestica''. It is wrinkly in shape, unlike its non-dried counterpart.
==Production==
More than 125 [[cultivar]]s of plums are grown for drying. Four of the most common cultivars are French, Imperial, Italian, and [[Greengage]]. In general, prunes are freestone cultivars (the pit is easy to remove), whereas most other plums grown for fresh consumption are cling (the pit is more difficult to remove). Fresh prunes reach the market earlier than fresh plums and are usually smaller in size. <!-- ?!?!?!?! -->
One of the largest and best-known prune producers is [[Sunsweet Growers]], headquartered in [[Yuba City, CA]], who control more than 2/3 of the prune market worldwide. In the [[United States]], an effort to [[rebrand]] "prunes" as '''"dried plums"''' began in 2000, to appeal to a younger market who associated prunes with [[elderly people]].<ref name="Zasky">{{cite web |url=http://www.failuremag.com/arch_business_dried_plums.html |title=TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: CHANGE FROM 'PRUNE' TO 'DRIED PLUM' PROVING FRUITFUL |first=Jason |last=Zasky |date=c.2002 |accessdate=2007-04-05 |publisher=Failure Magazine}}</ref> However, only some varieties of plum are usually called prunes when dried; others have usually been called "dried plums" in any case.<ref>Zasky, op. cit. "The dried European plums equal prunes while the dried [[Japanese plum]]s are usually just called dried plums."</ref>
==Uses==
Prunes are used in cooking both sweet and savory dishes. Stewed prunes, a [[compote]], are a dessert. Prunes are a frequent ingredient in [[North African cuisine|North African]] [[tagine]]s. Perhaps the best-known gastronomic prunes are those of [[Agen]] (''pruneaux d'Agen'').
==Health benefits==
Prune juice is richer in [[dietary fiber|fiber]] than plum juice and is often marketed as a treatment for [[constipation]], and it helps with [[kidney stones]].
==In popular culture==
* "Prune juice. A warrior's drink!" - [[Worf]] <ref name="Worf">{{cite web |url=http://tvsothertenpercent.tripod.com/startrek/worf.html |title=Worf Quotations |accessdate=2007-04-24 }}</ref>
*There has long been an [[urban myth]] that prune juice is an ingredient in [[Dr. Pepper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/business/secret/drpepper.asp |title=Belle Pepper |first=Barbara |last=Mikkelson |date=[[27 February]] 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-05 |publisher=[[Snopes]] |quote=Dr Pepper doesn't contain any prune juice, but this rumor is remarkably long-lived, having been with us since about 1930.}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Dietary Fiber]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.californiadriedplums.org California Prune Board]
*[http://www.sunsweet.com Sunsweet]
==Notes and References==
<references/>
[[Category:Dried fruit]]
A '''prune''' is a [[dried fruit]] of various [[plum]] species, mostly ''Prunus domestica''. It is wrinkly in shape, unlike its non-dried counterpart.
==Production==
More than 125 [[cultivar]]s of plums are grown for drying. Four of the most common cultivars are French, Imperial, Italian, and [[Greengage]]. In general, prunes are freestone cultivars (the pit is easy to remove), whereas most other plums grown for fresh consumption are cling (the pit is more difficult to remove). Fresh prunes reach the market earlier than fresh plums and are usually smaller in size. <!-- ?!?!?!?! -->
One of the largest and best-known prune producers is [[Sunsweet Growers]], headquartered in [[Yuba City, CA]], who control more than 2/3 of the prune market worldwide. In the [[United States]], an effort to [[rebrand]] "prunes" as '''"dried plums"''' began in 2000, to appeal to a younger market who associated prunes with [[elderly people]].<ref name="Zasky">{{cite web |url=http://www.failuremag.com/arch_business_dried_plums.html |title=TURNING OVER A NEW LEAF: CHANGE FROM 'PRUNE' TO 'DRIED PLUM' PROVING FRUITFUL |first=Jason |last=Zasky |date=c.2002 |accessdate=2007-04-05 |publisher=Failure Magazine}}</ref> However, only some varieties of plum are usually called prunes when dried; others have usually been called "dried plums" in any case.<ref>Zasky, op. cit. "The dried European plums equal prunes while the dried [[Japanese plum]]s are usually just called dried plums."</ref>
==Uses==
Prunes are used in cooking both sweet and savory dishes. Stewed prunes, a [[compote]], are a dessert. Prunes are a frequent ingredient in [[North African cuisine|North African]] [[tagine]]s. Perhaps the best-known gastronomic prunes are those of [[Agen]] (''pruneaux d'Agen'').
==Health benefits==
Prune juice is richer in [[dietary fiber|fiber]] than plum juice and is often marketed as a treatment for [[constipation]], and it helps with [[kidney stones]].
==In popular culture==
* "Prune juice. A warrior's drink!" - [[Worf]] <ref name="Worf">{{cite web |url=http://tvsothertenpercent.tripod.com/startrek/worf.html |title=Worf Quotations |accessdate=2007-04-24 }}</ref>
*There has long been an [[urban myth]] that prune juice is an ingredient in [[Dr. Pepper]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.snopes.com/business/secret/drpepper.asp |title=Belle Pepper |first=Barbara |last=Mikkelson |date=[[27 February]] 2007 |accessdate=2007-04-05 |publisher=[[Snopes]] |quote=Dr Pepper doesn't contain any prune juice, but this rumor is remarkably long-lived, having been with us since about 1930.}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Dietary Fiber]]
==External Links==
*[http://www.californiadriedplums.org California Prune Board]
*[http://www.sunsweet.com Sunsweet]
==Notes and References==
<references/>
[[Category:Dried fruit]]
