Plums, Dumbarton

2026-06-19

Central Otago’s Teviot Valley is renowned for producing some of New Zealand’s finest stone fruit, including exceptional plums. The first fruit trees were planted in Central Otago following the Gold Rush around 1860. Warm, sun‑soaked summers followed by cold, dry winters create ideal conditions for developing deep flavour and natural sweetness.

Just south of Roxburgh, in Dumbarton, brothers Simon and Nigel Donaldson have been supplying Black Doris and Omega plums to us for more than 20 years. A huge crate of these Omega plums is one of the first things we notice as we enter the orchard, with mottled purply-red skin glistening in the late summer sun. They’re good enough to eat now, but these are ready to be taken away for processing back up in South Canterbury.

The orchard itself is more than 100 years old. It is beautiful – fruit trees flanked with native trees and shrubbery. Many of these rows are well established, and you can tell.

Born and raised here, Nigel and Simon have always called the orchard home. Since formally taking on the orchard two decades ago, the Donaldsons have continued to develop it - replacing ageing trees with new plantings to keep the business viable for the long term.

The brothers grow “a broad mixture” of plums, apricots, peaches and nectarines. A group of pickers are gathering the palm-sized Fortune plums as we speak.

“You have to be pretty resilient to grow fruit,” Nigel tells us. “It’s a good lifestyle when it’s going okay, but when it’s not, it’s a bit harder.”

Roxburgh might be known for warm summer days but it’s not immune to tough weather, especially frost and hail. This can mean some seasons are a challenge, but in a good year the payoff is fruit with real depth of flavour.

We are grateful for Simon and Nigel’s continuous work to produce delicious fruit. You can enjoy the Donaldson’s plums picked at their best, along with other kiwi growers, year-round in our Anathoth Farm Plum Jam.