Ivan Radak, a fruit grower from Kikinda, with his plantation of about 500 Stanley plum trees, is the largest and one of the few producers of this variety in the north of Banat. Thanks to the application of full agricultural techniques and hard work, Radak manages to achieve solid yields despite unfavorable weather conditions. His working day starts at five in the morning and lasts until the evening hours, with mandatory daily watering that lasts several hours. This approach allows him to achieve good yields even in extreme weather conditions, as they were this season.
Ivan Radak’s plantation includes seven- and four-year-old plantations of Stanley plums, a variety known for its resistance and ability to produce high yields. He continued the family tradition of breeding Stanleys, which his father started 30 years ago.
Radak chose this variety of plum because of its resistance to frost and its ability to withstand harsh weather conditions without the risk of drying out. Stanley ripens in late August and early September, but due to specific climatic conditions this year, ripening began earlier. In full fruit, one Stanley plum tree can produce up to 80 kilograms of fruit, which is one of the reasons why Ivan remained faithful to this variety.
Plums produced less well this season
The year 2024 was not favorable to fruit crops, and not even Stanley, which normally rarely lets producers down. Despite the daily watering, extremely high temperatures left their mark on the quality of the fruits. High temperatures throughout the day caused the plums to ripen from the inside, leading to dark brown spots inside the fruit.
This phenomenon, known as “cooking from the inside”, occurs when high temperature causes internal changes in the fruit, while the outside remains healthy. This problem is not specific only to Radak’s plantation, but is present in all Stanley plum producers this year.
Ivan Radak is a passionate guardian of the Stanley plum growing tradition and plans to expand his plantation. He does not want to stop at the existing 500 trees, but plans to increase the capacity with new seedlings. In this way, he will continue to nurture the family tradition and contribute to the preservation of the most popular Serbian fruit. Radak’s dedication and work ethic serve as an example to other fruit growers in the region, showing how hard work and knowledge can turn into success even in the most challenging circumstances. Thanks to his work, the Stanley plum remains synonymous with quality and resistance in the fruit industry of northern Banat.
Source: AgroTV
Source: boljazemlja.com
