This commodity profile was rendered from
knowledge.domain = commodity, key = plum(GDF v2.0, 3385 attributes, 28 sections).Renderer:
commodity_profile_rendererv1.0.0. Source row version:knowledge_forge_gdf_v2.0_export_2026-04-06.
Identity & Botany
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Canonical name | Plum |
| Scientific name | Prunus domestica |
| Family / Genus | Rosaceae / Prunus |
| Produce category | Stone Fruit |
| Produce subcategory | Drupe |
| FSMA 204 covered? | No |
| PLU — conventional | 4040 |
| PLU — organic | 94040 |
| AGROVOC URI | c_5941 |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s01_identity. External: FAO AGROVOC.
Varieties
Estimated commercial varieties: 125.
| Variety | Market share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa | 18.5% | Large, crimson skin with amber flesh, tart-sweet flavor. Early season Japanese plum. Self-fruitful, excellent for fresh eating and canning. Developed by Luther Burbank. |
| Black Diamond | 15.2% | Dark purple to black skin, firm yellow flesh. Excellent shipping quality. Mid to late season. Sweet with mild tartness. Very popular commercial variety. |
| Blackamber | 12.8% | Black skin with amber flesh. Very firm, excellent for long-distance shipping. Early to mid-season. Sweet-tart balanced flavor. Major commercial variety. |
| Angeleno | 11.5% | Very late season, dark purple skin, amber flesh. Exceptionally firm with excellent storage life. Sweet flavor. Extends plum season into fall. |
| Red Beaut | 8.3% | Bright red skin, yellow flesh. Very early season variety. Firm with good flavor. Important for early market window. Self-fruitful. |
| Friar | 7.9% | Large, black skin with amber flesh. Firm texture, good shipper. Mid-season variety. Sweet and juicy. Popular in California production. |
| Simka | 6.2% | Red-purple skin, yellow flesh. Very early season. Good firmness and flavor. Important early market variety. Self-fruitful. |
| Larry Ann | 5.4% | Yellow skin with red blush, yellow flesh. Mid-season yellow plum. Sweet flavor, aromatic. Growing market presence for yellow plum category. |
| Catalina | 4.8% | Purple-black skin, yellow flesh. Late season variety. Very firm with excellent shipping quality. Sweet flavor profile. |
| Flavor King (Pluot) | 3.8% | Plum-apricot hybrid (75% plum). Dark red skin, red flesh. Intensely sweet and spicy flavor. Premium specialty market. Zaiger Genetics breeding. |
| Dapple Dandy (Pluot) | 2.9% | Plum-apricot hybrid. Distinctive mottled red and green skin, cream flesh with red streaks. Sweet, complex flavor. Premium market variety. |
| Italian Prune (Fellenberg) | 2.6% | European plum type. Blue-purple skin, firm yellow-green flesh. Freestone. Excellent for drying (prunes), canning, and fresh eating. Traditional variety. |
| October Sun | 2.3% | Very late season variety. Red skin, yellow flesh. Firm, good shipper. Sweet flavor. Extends harvest season significantly. |
| Fortune | 1.9% | Bright red skin, yellow flesh. Mid-season. Good firmness and flavor. Productive commercial variety. Self-fruitful. |
| Flavor Queen (Pluot) | 1.7% | Plum-apricot hybrid. Yellow-green skin with red blush, pale flesh. Aromatic, intensely sweet flavor. Premium specialty market. |
| Damson | 0.8% | European plum type. Small, oval, blue-purple fruit. Very tart, primarily for cooking and preserves. Traditional heritage variety. Self-fruitful. |
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s04_varieties.variety_summaries.
Post-Harvest Handling
Temperature
- Chilling injury threshold: 36°F.
- Freezing point: 30.5°F. Hard limit.
- Handling urgency: 4 / 5.
Ethylene
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Production class | moderate |
| Production rate (20°C) | 8 μL/kg·hr typical (5–12) |
| Sensitivity class | low |
| Sensitivity threshold | 10 ppm |
| Climacteric? | Yes |
Agent note: Plums continue to ripen post-harvest and produce moderate ethylene. Cold chain management critical to control ripening rate. Separating from high ethylene producers (apples, pears) can extend shelf life.
Mixed-load compatibility
stone_fruit_group
Operational flags
- Can be top-iced? No
- Light-sensitive? No
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s07_harvest_post_harvest.
Market Intelligence
Demand
Steady to slightly declining domestic per capita consumption (2.2 lbs/person). Growing interest in specialty varieties like pluots and apriums. Organic segment growing 8-12% annually. Counter-seasonal imports from Southern Hemisphere increasingly important for year-round availability.
Elasticity
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Price elasticity | -0.75 |
| Income elasticity | 0.35 |
| Organic premium elasticity | -0.45 |
Market share by variety
| Variety | Share |
|---|---|
| Black Plum (Black Splendor, Friar, Blackamber) | 35% |
| Red Plum (Red Beaut, Simka, Angeleno) | 28% |
| Yellow/Green Plum (Flavor King, Dapple Dandy) | 15% |
| Pluot/Interspecific | 12% |
| Japanese Varieties (Santa Rosa type) | 7% |
| European Prune Plum | 3% |
Pack sizes
- 25 lb cartons
- 28 lb cartons
- 20 lb half cartons
- 11-12 lb flats
- Consumer packs: 1 lb, 2 lb, 3 lb
Source: GDF v2.1.1 s09_market_intelligence.
Rendered by commodity_profile_renderer v1.0.0 on 2026-05-15T22:30:00.000Z.