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Plums

 

    Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.

Background

In the United States, nearly all of the commercially grown plums are hybrids of the Japanese plum introduced by a Berkley nurseryman in the 1870s and subsequently hybridized by Luther Burbank in the late 1800s (California Tree Fruit Agreement).

Today, California is the dominant producer of plums due to its mild winters, minimal rainfall during the growing season and low humidity, which is ideal for the Japanese varieties. In 2008 the state produced 160,000 tons of plums from 29,500 acres of land. The total value of that crop was $57 million (NASS).

Four other states also raise plums commercially: Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington. Oregon is generally the largest producer, followed by Washington, Michigan and Idaho. Together, these states harvested 15,500 tons of plums in 2008, including 8,700 tons of fresh plums. The total value of these fresh plums was $4.8 million (NASS).  January 2010 . . . Plums

 

Other Links


Links checked January 2010.

 

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