With the increased demand for locally grown fresh fruit, some Maine farmers see an opportunity in adding plums to fruit crops already being grown for the consumer market.

“Plum Production in Maine” (extension.umaine.edu/publications/2034e) provides information on topics including plum varieties, estimated production costs and yields, planting and pollination, and harvesting and storage. 

UMaine Extension tree fruit specialist Renae Moran, who wrote the bulletin, recommends that farmers consider how the cultural requirements of plums would affect their overall operation before planting. 

For more information and free downloads, or to order full-color bulletins for $3.50 each, visit the UMaine Extension Publications Catalog (extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu) or contact 207.581.3792; extension.orders@maine.edu. 

About University of Maine Cooperative Extension: As a trusted resource for over 100 years, University of Maine Cooperative Extension has supported UMaine's land and sea grant public education role by conducting community-driven, research-based programs in every Maine county. UMaine Extension helps support, sustain and grow the food-based economy. It is the only entity in our state that touches every aspect of the Maine Food System, where policy, research, production, processing, commerce, nutrition, and food security and safety are integral and interrelated. UMaine Extension also conducts the most successful out-of-school youth educational program in Maine through 4-H.