This is a beautiful and well-cared for plum orchard located about 20 miles
east of San Rafael in Colonia Castillo. About 70% of the finca is in production with
the rest being fallow land.
There is an unfinished brick barn in excellent shape though it is not being used. It
could easily be remodeled without great expense to provide a house for either the
caretaker or the owner.
While there is adequate water brought by the irrigation canal, the farm also comes with
a well functioning as a backup water source. The electric motor is missing but a replacement
could be installed if desired. In addition, a power line from the road to the pump house
would need to be laid to provide electricity. The value of just the well based on replacement
cost today is about US$15,000.
Currently, an experienced caretaker with over 40 years of experience (on the adjacent farm)
has been working this one for the past two years. He receives a salary of about US$100 a
month, plus 18 percent of the plum production. The farm is currently laid out to produce
about 100,000 kilos of D�Agen Plums per year. Annual plum production for the past 3
years has been 7,000 kg (2006), 10,000 kg (2007), and 3,500 kg (2008). While the existing
orchard is about 7 years old, it was neglected. A recovery program of fertilization and pruning
was started in 2006 to return production to normal levels. A new plum orchard was also
installed in 2007. The 2007 harvest of 10,000 kg from 1400 trees fetched over 10,000 pesos
(US$3,300), but this year's harvest was lower due to spring frost which hindered floration.
The San Rafael Irrigation District just completed an upgrade to the main supply canal that is
very close to the property. While the old canal was shallow, narrow and made of dirt, the
new one is considerably deeper, wider and is now cement-lined. Commissioned only a month
ago, it now provides ample volumes of water to the growing area while enhancing the
value of farms in its proximity.
The San Rafael region can be subject to hail, depending on weather conditions and luck of the
draw, so there is no guarantee on production . . . but as the existing orchard matures and the
new plum orchard comes online, future production based on the combined 2600 trees should
approach 100,000 kg. With almost 6 acres remaining in fallow land, another 1300 plum or olive
trees can be planted to increase production. For example, with an additional 1300-1400 plum
trees, this farm could produce at least 150,000 kg/year generating over 170,000 pesos using
2008 prices. With good luck and favorable weather, perhaps a good deal more than that.
FEATURES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
** A recovering Plum Orchard of approximately 1400 D'Agen
Plum Trees (used for prunes). Production averages about
7,000-10,000 kg per year.
** A new Plum Orchard of approximately 1200 D'Agen Plum
trees was planted in 2007.
** Future production from these 2600 trees, based on a yield
of 40 kg/tree, should exceed 100,000 kg/year.
** Atypical of most farms, roughly 70% is in production.
** Almost 5 acres of fallow land remain for additional crops
(e.g., plums or olives).
** Should an additional 1300 plum trees be planted, the future
production (3900 trees) is expected to yield about 160,000 kg/year.
** Miscellaneous Fruit Trees including Peaches, Apricots & others.
** A good-sized brick barn in excellent condition.
** A new fence and a lockable new gate was installed in 2007.
