Articles
THE HISTORY OF PLUM GROWING FOR THE FRESH MARKET IN CALIFORNIA
Article number
985_2
Pages
27 – 32
Language
English
Abstract
The fresh market plum (mostly Prunus salicina) industry began to flourish after the California gold rush in the 1860s.
It grew rapidly during this time, largely due to the prolific breeding work of Luther Burbank.
Fresh market plum production experienced another rapid period of growth and change during the 1970s and 1980s with the introduction of large, black cultivars.
However, this industry has declined in the last decade because of stiff competition from many other types of fresh fruits.
Breeding programs have recently introduced some new cultivars for the fresh market including pluots (plum × apricot hybrids) and high sugar P. domestica types.
Originally, plums were grown near the coast and in foothill regions close to the urban populations of San Francisco and Sacramento.
In the 1960s large water projects were developed which allowed for extensive irrigation inland.
The plum growing areas then shifted almost entirely to the central valleys.
Today, the fresh plum industry is largely south of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley.
With the shift in location, many cultural practices and marketing methods have changed as well.
Extensive soil cultivation has been replaced by non-cultivation and widespread use of herbicides.
This has allowed for somewhat closer plantings although the rootstocks used have always been non-dwarfing types.
A few semi-dwarfing stocks such as Citation have started to gain popularity in recent years.
Packaging has changed from small, hand packed baskets to the current method of tightly packed, volume filled boxes.
As we look to the future there is an increasing interest in developing plum and plum hybrids with unique characteristics including varied skin colors, red flesh, and high soluble solids concentrations.
It grew rapidly during this time, largely due to the prolific breeding work of Luther Burbank.
Fresh market plum production experienced another rapid period of growth and change during the 1970s and 1980s with the introduction of large, black cultivars.
However, this industry has declined in the last decade because of stiff competition from many other types of fresh fruits.
Breeding programs have recently introduced some new cultivars for the fresh market including pluots (plum × apricot hybrids) and high sugar P. domestica types.
Originally, plums were grown near the coast and in foothill regions close to the urban populations of San Francisco and Sacramento.
In the 1960s large water projects were developed which allowed for extensive irrigation inland.
The plum growing areas then shifted almost entirely to the central valleys.
Today, the fresh plum industry is largely south of Fresno in the San Joaquin Valley.
With the shift in location, many cultural practices and marketing methods have changed as well.
Extensive soil cultivation has been replaced by non-cultivation and widespread use of herbicides.
This has allowed for somewhat closer plantings although the rootstocks used have always been non-dwarfing types.
A few semi-dwarfing stocks such as Citation have started to gain popularity in recent years.
Packaging has changed from small, hand packed baskets to the current method of tightly packed, volume filled boxes.
As we look to the future there is an increasing interest in developing plum and plum hybrids with unique characteristics including varied skin colors, red flesh, and high soluble solids concentrations.
Authors
K.R. Day, R.S. Johnson, T.M. DeJong
Keywords
Prunus salicina, fresh plums, plum production, Mediteranean climate fruit
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