OSTEOPOROSIS is commonly associated with menopause and ageing but, research from Bahram Arjmandi at Florida State University has indicated bone-loss can actually be reversed with the daily consumption of a few prunes.
For most people, prunes have been associated with regular bowel movements and not much more.
Last November, a contingent of Australian plum-to-prune growers attended the International Prune Association’s annual conference in Chile.
Although there are only 60 prune producers in Australia, the total production is more than 3750 tonnes and the majority sold to Angas Park in Mildura, Verity Prunes in Young and a growing proportion exported to Sunsweet in California, the largest co-operative processor in the world.
Up until 2016, California was the largest prune producing region in the world but, due to drought which has affected many crops in that state, Chile has now assumed this mantle.
Grant Delves from Griffith is President of the Australian Prune Industry and described how growers here continue to develop valuable relationships with their peers in other countries.
“As our industry is so small, we can’t afford to initiate research projects to quantify the nutritional benefits of prunes however, we can partner with similar sized groups and invest into this vital area,” he said.
“The results are even more wide-spread than initially imagined and we are excited to be growing the next super-food.
“The majority of the research is being conducted in the United states and one of the latest results indicates that cancer patients on drug regimes have fewer side effects when they eat prunes every day.”
Prunes contain high amounts of the minerals potassium and magnesium, both essential for optimum bone-health and this is why there is so much excitement about encouraging the consumption of prunes to a much wider audience.
Most Australian prune producers have their own on-farm drying facilities whereas, in other countries, fresh plums are transported to centralised dehydrators.
The practice of value-adding on-farm results in growers gaining a higher price as their finished product has a longer shelf-life as opposed to the more perishable fresh plums.
Mr Delves said this year’s crop is looking promising, in spite of a wet and relatively warm winter.
“Plums need a certain chill-factor to ensure the blossom and fruit established in autumn becomes completely dormant prior to emerging in spring,” he said.
“The outcomes of not having this regime include lower fruit set and ultimately, a smaller crop.”
“Larger fruit are preferred so growers will thin crops to ensure the largest possible size with the highest quality as this is what customers expect.
“Eating Australian prunes is the easiest way to include minerals and vitamins in your daily diet so, eat up and live longer.”
The Australian Prune Industry has recipes and nutritional information available at its web site.
Pennie Scott
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
I am an independent scholar with interests and expertise in regenerative agriculture, equity and justice for farmers, functioning healthy landscapes and the culture in agri-culture. My aim is to inform holistically and honestly to ensure readers have access to what they need, now.
