National Prune Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

National Prune Day is annually observed on June 15. The numerous health benefits of these desiccated plums are highlighted on this day. Prunes are extraordinarily abundant in fibre, vitamin A, and anti-cancer antioxidants. In addition, they are beneficial for your eyesight and digestion. Additionally, it protects against muscular degeneration and night blindness. But don’t be fooled; there are numerous ways to consume this fruit. If you don’t like its texture, try consuming it in various ways. Now is the time to incorporate prunes into your diet in inventive ways, from desserts and beverages to salads.

The background of National Prune Day

Despite being a ubiquitous food item in the West, prunes originated in China. The Chinese cultivated wild plums and transformed them into delicious fruit by adding molasses and brown sugar. They are sun-dried before becoming the wrinkled fruit we recognise today. The sugar functions as a preservative, extending their shelf life. These fruits serve as food reserves in the event of a poor harvest, as well as nibbles and meal replacements for travellers.

Prunes rapidly gained popularity in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. The Romans cultivated the earliest and most popular prune variety, the little blue plum. It was first harvested in the province of Narbonne, which soon spread to the modern-day region of Quercy.

In the 12th century, when Benedictine monks returned from the third Crusade and brought novel varieties from Syria, prunes were grafted. They grafted the Syrian Damas variety onto the local varieties, resulting in the ‘Prune d’Ente’ variety. This new variety has a layer that is fine, waxy, and powdery, and it rapidly adapted to the soil in the southwest, making it a staple crop for the locals.

From the 17th century to the end of the 19th century, when it was considered a’superfood’ by food experts, its demand increased dramatically. It became a staple for sailors and navy personnel due to its vitamin and mineral content, which provided them with vitality throughout the day. Later, they began combining prunes with a batter consisting of flour and eggs. This recipe is now known as the renowned “Breton prune fare.” In modern times, health professionals and dietitians recommend prunes to individuals with digestive issues, low blood sugar, and vitamin A deficiency.

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NATIONAL PRUNE DAY ACTIVITIES

Learn prune recipes

National Prune Day is the perfect time of year to discover new prune recipes. Start with the simple yet renowned breton fare avec pruneaux and work your way up to more complex recipes.

Consider a prune diet

Scientists have demonstrated that consuming prunes and prune juice helps to lower blood pressure. It doesn’t have to be a strict diet, but you’ll be astonished by the results from doing this just once per day.

Order a prune cake

What is a party without a cake? On National Prune Day, share a sweet, tart, and delectable piece of prune cake with your friends and family.

5 FUN FACTS ABOUT PRUNES

There are more than 1,000 varieties of dried or packaged plums.

As permitted by the U.S. F.D.A., some prune growers changed the name of prunes to ‘dried plums’ to avoid the misconception that they are only ingested to relieve constipation.

The soil, climate, and growing season influence the production of prunes from plums.

Prunes can be substituted for butter in cookery, making vegan cakes possible.

Despite being delicious, prunes contain only 20 calories.

NATIONAL PRUNE DAY DATES

Year	Date	Day
2023	June 15	Thursday
2024	June 15	Saturday
2025	June 15	Sunday
2026	June 15	Monday
2027	June 15	Tuesday