Photo courtesy of USDA ARS.

Overview

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 2010 the state produced 141,300 tons of plums on 26,200 acres of land. The total value of the crop was $78.4 million (NASS 2011).

Four other states also raise plums commercially: Idaho, Michigan, Oregon and Washington. Oregon is generally the largest producer, followed by Washington, Idaho and Michigan. Together, these states harvested 12,300 tons of plums in 2010, including 7,800 tons of fresh plums. The total value of these fresh plums was $4.3 million (NASS 2011).  Revised March 2012 . . .  Plums

Other Links

• Food Consumption (per capita) Data System, Economic Research Service (ERS), USDA.
• Fresh Market Plums, Sample Costs to Establish and Produce, University of California Cooperative Extension, 2004.
• Fruit and Tree Nuts, ERS, USDA.
• Fruit and Tree Nuts Yearbook, ERS, USDA, 2011.
• Key to delicious tree fruit is keeping it out of the "killing zone," Agriculture and Natural Resources,  University of California.
• Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts Summary, National Agricultural Statistical Service (NASS), USDA, 2011.
• Plums, Hortiscope, North Dakota State University Extension Service.
• Plums, Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, British Columbia, Canada.
• Plums, University of Georgia.

Marketing

• California Plums Remain Marketed through California Tree Fruits Agreement through March 2012
• California Plum Marketing Board to close its doors on March 31, 2012
• Global Agricultural Trade Systems
• US per capita food availability data
• United States Standards for grades of plums
• Quality guidelines
  • Plum: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality

Production

• General information, eXtension – Garden, Lawns and Landscapes   
• Costs of production for selected regions
• Production biology
  • http://ucanr.org/sites/ctfa/
  • Southeastern Peach, Nectarine and Plum Pest Management and Culture Guide, University of Georgia, 2008 - This guide for commercial growers provides information on suggested fungicide and insecticide rates for various growth stages.
• Disease control in plums
  • http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/plantsci/hortcrop/pp689w.htm
  • http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/pp/notes/Fruit/fdin002/fdin002.htm#cherry
  • www.ipmcenters.org/pmsp/pdf/CAPLUMPMSP.pdf

Trade

• Changes to plum export regulations

Links checked March 2012.