Stable Conditions Set Pace for California’s Premium Prunes

ROSEVILLE, CALIF. – June 9, 2021 – California Prune orchards put on a beautiful show this spring as the
trees bloomed with white blossoms and shifted to a changing colour palette as new fruit formed.
Growers across the San Joaquin and Sacramento valleys reported a nice extended bloom with excellent
quality.
With an estimated 75,000 tons in volume for the 2021 crop, California Prune growers have been diligent
in maintaining the health of the trees, the soil, and preparing crews for harvest this summer to produce
the premium quality prunes that California is renowned for. Over the course of the pandemic, demand
for California Prunes accelerated and the industry responded with smart inventory management which
translates to consistency in supply for customers.
“Stable weather conditions and a steady supply have put the California Prune industry in a healthy
position,” says Donn Zea, Executive Director for the California Prune Board. “We are hitting an
equilibrium in acreage and supply due in part to the carryover that California maintains each year to
provide customers with a high-quality, healthy product when it matters most.”
California is the world’s largest supplier of prunes providing a range of premium sizes to meet demand in
the U.S. and key export markets. Generations of craftsmanship, intricate climate-controlled drying
tunnels, and ongoing investments in research to perfect orchard management practices and deepen the
understanding of health benefits, have provided a solid foundation for California’s growers and handlers.
“Providing a reliable supply each year is a priority across the industry,” added Zea. “With over 100 years
of experience growing prunes, we’ve found our way through many challenges, but we’ve never taken our
eye off the ball.”
California has the highest agricultural standards of any other nation. Prune growers and handlers make
substantial investments that support the profitability and production of a sustainable food system
without compromising efficiencies. Each year, the California Prune industry generates more than $717
million in annual economic impact flowing into the state economy creating and sustaining more than
7,000 full-time equivalent jobs.

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE BOARD
Created in 1952, The California Prune Board aims to amplify the premium positioning and top-of-mind
awareness of California Prunes through advertising, public relations, promotion, nutrition research, crop
management and sustainability research, and issues management. The California Prune Board represents
approximately 800 prune growers and 28 prune, juice, and ingredient handlers under the authority of the
California Secretary of Food and Agriculture.

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