There are more reports on good quality product from California this summer and this time, it's on plums. "There was less extreme heat so less damage," says Blair Greenhill, VP of purchasing for Nickey Gregory Company. "The weather was milder. Sometimes in the San Joaquin Valley, temperatures are 110-115 degrees which is not good for the plums' internals and it won't let them hold up as well. While sizing on them has been down a bit, the quality is much better than last year. There's less hail damage too."
On overall supply, estimates are that the black plum crop is down maybe 25 percent compared to a normal year, and red plums down just slightly. Even so, there's good, promotable supply right now.
It also happens to be a time of year with some of the best varieties with high sugar which makes for good eating experiences. On black plums, Angelenos, one of the late varieties, has just started. "We've got a few more really good varieties coming online in two to three weeks–Autumn Magic, Purple Honeys and Black Cherry plums," says Greenhill. "On red plums, we have Sugar Hearts which are super sweet and finish with a brilliant color. Flavor Falls are starting up, one of the later varieties on reds, and Autumn Treats, Rosette Jewels and Flavor Burst will finish the season."
© Nickey Gregory Co.Greenhill showing Black Opal and Sugar Heart plums.
Quality boosting demand
Meanwhile plum demand is good and steady. "It helps when quality is outstanding like it is right now," says Greenhill. "They are coming in hard with good sugars so we get repeat orders pretty quickly when it's like that. It almost fuels demand when you're seeing that good quality."
On pricing, black plum pricing is rising right now given the tighter supply ahead.
Looking ahead, California red plum supply will probably go until Thanksgiving or even mid mid-December while black plum supply will go another month to six weeks. "Once California is done, we'll wait for Chilean plums to arrive in later January and they'll go until the beginning of April or so. Then there will be a typical gap until California starts again in later May," says Greenhill.
Plums are just one thing the company will be discussing at the Southern Innovations show in Charlotte, NC September 10-13. "There's always a push for us at shows to make sure that everyone knows our full complement of services–with Family Fresh Foods, we're a processor. With Gregory Family Express Brokerage, we're a transportation provider. Nikki Gregory Company is a wholesaler and repacker and distributor and our new retail division can provide DSDs and hands-on assistance with in-store sets for our retail clientele," says Greenhill, adding that the company will exhibit at booth #302.
For more information:
Blair Greenhill
Nickey Gregory Company
Tel: +1 (404) 366-7410
https://nickeygregory.com/