Variety
Like their cousins the peach and the nectarine, the plum comes in hundreds of varieties. There are both freestone and clingstone varieties. The European plums have a range of pink to purple skin with multi-colored flesh from golden yellow, creamy white to blood red. European plums are usually freestone, meaning they separate easily from the flesh. European plums generally lack the flavor of Japanese varieties. Japanese plums have yellow to red skin and their flesh can be yellow, amber or yellow with red. Flowers are similar to the peach, but white, smaller, and have longer pedicels.
Locally Grown
Over 90% of the plums consumed in the United States are grown in California, many of them in the San Joaquin Valley. Fruit Patch grows plums only on the best Class 1 soils for optimum plum growth and production. Class 1 soils are defined as deep, fine-sandy loam soils with good internal drainage. For 2004 Variety Availability, please click here.