California Prune Board used California Ag Day — which coincided with Earth Day this April — to spotlight growers’ environmental stewardship and the industry’s role in feeding consumers. The state produces Nearly all U.S. prunes, while also leading the nation in specialty crops and producing More than half U.S. produce of fruits and vegetables overall. CPB framed the celebration around producer commitments to responsible farming, ongoing investments and consumer outreach that link orchard practices to product quality.
Growers described a holistic approach to sustainability that emphasizes efficient water use, improved soil health and lower-energy processing. Producers have adopted precision irrigation, soil-management practices and updated drying systems to reduce resource use without sacrificing fruit quality. The industry says those practices are combined with multi-generational expertise to deliver a consistent, premium product for markets at home and abroad.
Sustainability messaging also covers the workforce and local economies that support prune production. CPB highlighted fair wages, safe working conditions and collaboration with handlers and processors as part of long-term viability for family farms. Ongoing research and innovation were presented as essential to improving resilience across the supply chain.
Investments in research and tech
The board pointed to specific technology and measurement efforts that shape production and processing decisions, including updated drying equipment and irrigation upgrades at the orchard level. CPB is also investing in lifecycle analysis and other metrics to document environmental performance and find further efficiencies. Those technical efforts are positioned as tools to lower per-unit resource use while maintaining the premium appearance, flavor and shelf life that buyers expect.
Consumer outreach and labeling
Beyond on-farm work, CPB is active in culinary and media events this month to connect growers with chefs, food writers and consumers. The board is promoting the CA GROWN mark as a signal of origin and stewardship, and it has participated in culinary festivals such as Cherry Bombe Jubilee to place prunes into recipe and retail conversations. CPB says this outreach is intended to expand demand for prune products while reinforcing the sustainability story.
“As we recognize both California Ag Day and Earth Day, we’re proud to celebrate the growers and communities who make California prunes the best in the world,” said Kiaran Locy, Director of Brand & Industry Communications at CPB. “The shared commitment to sustainability ensures that we can continue delivering a high-quality, nutritious product while caring for the land that grows with us.”
California is the world’s largest producer of premium prunes, with orchards across the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
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