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“If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, the consumer will think it’s a duck.” —Kevin Day know how much acreage of interspecific plum is out there,” Day said. The California Plum Marketing Board collects assessments on plums, but only voluntarily on interspecific plums, said Gary Van Sickle, president of the Califor- nia Tree Fruit Agreement that administers the Plum Marketing Board. Several years ago, the marketing order approved allow- ing shippers to label interspecifics as reg- ular plums and also allowed voluntary reporting of interspecific plums. A review of plum shipment and pack- out data published by the Tree Fruit Agreement shows about 10 interspecific varieties out of more than 55 plum vari- eties listed. Van Sickle notes that in the last three years, reported production of inter- specifics has been consistent at around 1.5 million boxes annually. Total plum shipments, which include interspecifics, ranged from 12.8 million to 9.4 million boxes for the last three years. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s called an interspecific or regular plum,” said Van Sickle. “What the industry is striving for is better flavor and an eating experience. It’s all about taste and flavor.” Limited success Kingsburg Orchards, a fifth-generation family farm that’s considered the Pluot/interspecific plum king, has invested in the special plums in a big way. The grower-shipper has planted more than 30 varieties of Pluots and inter- specifics on some of its 6,000 acres of tree fruit, according to its Web site. The grower-shipper has developed the Dinosaur Brand fruit program under which several varieties of interspecific plums are sold as “Dinosaur Eggs.” Kings- burg Orchards renamed the Dapple Dandy Pluot developed by Zaiger Genet- ics, Dinosaur Egg. Popular with kids, the company soon had a lineup of mottled hybrid plums that were all called Dinosaur Egg, regardless of whether it was a Zaiger Pluot or interspecific from another breeder. Bright, eye-catching graphics are used to grab children’s attention as part of the Dinosaur Brand marketing program. A special Dino101 Web site (www.dino 101.com) features educational and fun activities for children, parents, and teachers. Kingsburg Orchards has entered into an exclusive agreement with BQ Genetics and Bradford Farms, said Glen Bradford, who now breeds interspecific plums for the Jackson family of Kingsburg Orchards. “They choose which new selection they want to plant and pay production royal- ties,” Bradford said, adding that he www.goodfruit.com Sun Damage is No Joke. Sunburn and heat stress can wreak havoc on a crop. And the resulting losses can cut deep into a grower’s profi t. Geez! I’m FRIED! NEXT TIME, TRY A Little PURSHADE! patents the plum as an interspecific with a generic-type name, and Kingsburg gives it a trademarked name. Family Tree Farms, another California stone fruit grower-shipper growing Pluots and interspecific plums, uses plumcot to describe the plum and apricot hybrid fruit. Nearly 25 plumcot varieties are listed on Family Tree Farms’s Web site. • Stop the losses with Purshade’s Advanced Refl ectance Technology™. Developed by the experts in solar stress prevention, Purshade® protectants are easy to apply and remove, and have been scientifi cally engineered to protect crops from harmful radiation without interfering with photosynthesis. The result? Less sunburn, cooler plants, and better packouts. Don’t get burned! Protect your crops with Purshade and see why it has become the brand of choice for conventional and organic growers around the globe. ©2011 Purfresh, Inc. All rights reserved. Purfresh, the Purfresh logo, Purshade, the Purshade logo, and the “Purify, Protect, Preserve.” tagline are trademarks or registered trademarks of Purfresh, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Say no to future damage and losses — Spray Purshade today! For more information call 1.877.668.0303 or visit www.purshade.com/goodfruit GOOD FRUIT GROWER JUNE 2011 13