Plum production in California is at its peak right now, and bountiful supplies of the fruit have kept prices down. Recent high temperatures have not significantly affected the harvest, so the market is not expected to change until supplies start to taper off.“Prices are lower, but stable,” noted David White with Trinity Fruit Sales in Fresno, California. “We're just dealing with peak production right now, with overlapping varieties.” On July 5, prices for a carton of loose size 30 to 35 Blackamber plums were between $22.95 and $24.95; prices were about the same for other varieties of similarly-sized plums.
The recent heat wave that's hit the Central Valley, where current plum production is located, hasn't significantly affected what's being harvested. White noted that high temperatures can delay maturity and inhibit size, but the fruit moving through the system has not exhibited any signs of diminished quality.
“We haven't seen any major effects from recent high temperatures,” said White. “You usually see the effects from the heat a week after high temperatures, but it didn't get as hot as was anticipated.”
With steady volumes, current market conditions are expected to last through the first part of this month.
“It's a fairly normal to large crop this year,” said White. “I think we'll be over the peak production period by the second week of July, and I think prices should go up by the time the peak's over.”
For more information:
David White
Trinity Fruit Sales
+1 559 433 3777