YUBA CITY, CA July 14, 2009 – California prune growers face a difficult situation as harvest approaches. A glut of small prunes and poor economic conditions means that as much as 15% of this year’s prune crop will not have enough value to cover the cost of dehydration. The largest California prune processor has announced that prunes smaller than 96 prunes per pound will not be paid for. Growers delivering such prunes will incur industry assessments, hauling and drying charges, but no payment. In order to adjust to market condition growers are strongly advised to leave small prunes in the field by slowing down and doing a good of harvest screening.
       Growers can improve their returns by eliminating small fruit ahead of the dryer when the fruit is mechanically harvested. Doing so saves up to $120 per acre by reducing drying costs and improving the value of the remaining fruit.

“At harvest, growers should plan to use a bar chain with openings large enough so that what is know as ‘D-screen’ sized fruit will be left in the field,” says Greg Thompson, General Manager of the Prune Bargaining Association. “That is usually about a 1 and 1/8” opening, but it depends on the fruit pressure—check with an advisor if unsure. Growers should be sure to keep the bars clean and run at a speed so that small fruit has a chance to fall through.”
      Besides the cost to growers, delivering small prunes this year will increase unsold inventory. “With a world-wide glut of small prunes this year and a severe economic downturn in most markets, it is of the utmost importance that growers work with their packer to eliminate small prunes before drying so the crop doesn’t overburden drying, storage, and financial resources,” says Thompson. “Eliminating these small prunes will reduce costs, save energy, and help keep our industry competitive in the world market—without that we won’t survive.”

Yuba City, CA May 13, 2009 – Prune growers gathered today to discuss the world market outlook on the occasion of the 41st anniversary of the Prune Bargaining Association. The global credit crisis has disrupted normal export channels at a time of increasing production from South America and heavy crops around the world. Growers learned that small prunes will have little to no marketability and crops should be thinned now to improve fruit size and avoid economic loss.
      According to Greg Thompson, General Manager of the Prune Bargaining Association, buyers in some of the world’s key export markets such as Russia were unable to secure credit and sellers had no choice but to divert the prunes to other markets where the extra supply resulted in a glut of prunes. “Price have dropped 20% and some of the major markets remain offline,” says Thompson. “Combine that with heavy crops around the world and it is easy to see that we are in a very different situation when supply was limited and California was the predominant supplier. In the past we could negotiate a price for growers in California that would be reflected in the world

market. With over 100,000 tons of supply in South America, we don’t have that advantage.”
      When supplies exceed demand, buyers become more selective in what they buy and California packers expect that the market for prunes this year will be limited to the most useful size range of fruit—generally from 40 to 75 prunes per pound. “We have seen this same type of situation in walnuts,’ explained Richard Wilbur of Wilbur Packing.  “When the market is bad, buyers only want the very best product—prunes smaller than 75 count will have a very limited market this year.” 
      In general, heavy crops result in small prunes, but California growers have learned how to mechanically thin the fruit set by shaking the trees in mid-May to adjust crop load. Doing so reduces stress on tress and improves next year’s crop. Growers are strongly encouraged to measure their crop loads and reduce fruit set where needed. “This needs to take place now,’ said Franz Niederholzer, UC Extension, or they will lose the opportunity for better fruit size this year and a better crop next year.’