Fresh prune growers in California steadily exiting the market

In California, growers of plums destined for the dried plum and fresh prune market are predicting a crop that is slightly lower than average this year. The harvest is due to begin in early July. Rainy weather during pollination is believed to have had an effect on the somewhat sporadic fruit set.

"We're about six weeks away from harvest and the plums are sizing up right now," said Luke Wilson of Wil-Ker-Son Ranch & Packing in Gridley. "It looks like we will have a fairly average crop. Some fields have a good fruit set while others have less. We had a lot of rain during pollination and this may have caused a slight dip in the amount of fruit. Cold temperatures were also present during the spring."

Wilson said the variety Wil-Ker-Son grows is the Tulare Giant. This variety was developed by UC Davis and has proven to be a viable alternative to the traditional French prune, especially for growers looking for an early season crop. However, the variety is better utilized for the fresh market as it's not suitable for the dried product. "The Tulare Giant is an early season variety," he explained. "People pay good money for early season fruit. One of the problems that became apparent is that the plums were too big to fit in the commercial dryers, hence making it unsuitable for the dried market. However, because we exclusively sell only fresh prunes, it fits well with our program and we have now transitioned entirely to the Tulare Giant."

The prune market has been flat in the United States and demand has waned in recent years. There has been some effort to rebrand the fruit, with it now more commonly being referred to as a dried plum. For growers, they see the best returns in the export market, where the fruit is highly prized. 

"Almost all fresh prunes are exported to Asia, particularly to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and to a lesser extent, Malaysia," Wilson shared. "They have a very high sugar content and are considered a delicacy in East Asia. Therefore, consumers there pay a premium for them, much higher than what would be possible domestically. The demand is not so great in the US anyway, so growers are able to get good returns through the export market."

Unfortunately, fresh prune growers are facing a crisis, and it all revolves around labor. Growers simply cannot find enough labor for their needs, especially around harvest time. Costs are very high, and adding to the fact that the trees are less hardy than other stone fruit varieties, the result is that many growers are now looking to other commodities and turning their backs on prunes.

"Labor is our biggest issue," Wilson said. "Every year, it's getting harder and harder to find workers. Because the season lasts for only two to three weeks, picking is an intense time and this is the time we really need the workers. With the shortage, we have to pay a premium. At this point, we are seriously considering the H2A visa program which, despite all the paperwork and investment surrounding it, might be the only solution for us moving forward."

"There is not a lot of prune volume left in California now," he continued. "With the climate changing and the fact that the trees don't last as long as other stone fruit, it's becoming a challenge to maintain the crop. We are beginning to shift the focus to our other products, such as chestnuts, and therefore are not sure whether we will replant the current crop."

For more information:

Luke Wilson

Tel: +1 (530) 846-5561