Last year when the price of corn started going up around Exeter, California due to demand for ethanol, Mr. Herrera, the 80-year-old owner of 22 acres of family farmland, nearly plowed under his 40-year-old orchard. It made more financial sense to throw out his family farming history (and some sweet plum varieties) rather than go through another year of harvest and low prices from the local packing shed. It shouldn’t have to be this way.

That’s where we came in. Ronnie Gutierrez, a local farmer in the area and family friend of Mr. Herrera came to us with an idea. What if we put together a new kind of company? A company dedicated to some basic and sustainable principles in agriculture. Things like: the preservation of small family farms, the stewardship of land through use of organic farming methods, helping farmers fund a season so that they weren’t betting their business to the bank each year and having farmers share in the financial fruits of their labor. Thus Preservation Harvest was born.

Today, your purchase of these plums will guarantee that this 22-acre farm stays in fruit production and stays on track as we convert it from conventional farming methods to organic ones. Plus, your purchase of these plums will directly benefit the farmer through higher income. Thank you for your support of this program and enjoy these sweet plums!

Preservation Harvest Plums throughout the summer:

Plum Variety June July August
Red Beaut X X
Ambers X X
Santa Rosa X X
Simka X X
Black Friars X

Know your food – quick farm facts:

  • The Harvest:
    All of our 4,200 plum trees are pruned, thinned and picked by hand.
  • Soil:
    The soil has not been exposed to herbicides but instead mowed regularly. Plus we use only organic fertilizer (manure).
  • Water:
    We currently have converted half the orchard to a low flow water sprinkler system.
  • Pests:
    This year we used certified organic compounds and ladybugs to keep pests away from the fruit.