PRUMPLUM and Plumity team up for a plum-perfect Ume harvest 2025

Jinny PRUMPLUM
Jul 17
3 min read

Updated: Jul 18

PRUMPLUM Joined the Ume Harvest at Ume Domaine Arimoto (Plumity) – Minabe, Wakayama, Japan

This June, during the peak of the ume harvest season, PRUMPLUM had the pleasure of joining the harvest at Ume Domaine Arimoto in Minabe, Wakayama — the heartland of Nanko ume.

"We spent two full days on the farm, waking up at 5 AM and beginning the harvest at 6 AM sharp. The Nanko ume were as beautiful and fragrant as ever.

It was a truly memorable experience — from picking the fruit by hand to witnessing every step of the process. For a moment, we lived like real farmers, and it gave us an even deeper appreciation for the craft behind every bottle of umeshu and umebosi." Tem & Oil said

Tem & Oil Journey!

Tem (Manager, PRUMPLUM Stand) and Oil (Manager, PRUMPLUM Sathorn) geared up for the Nanko Ume harvest at Domaine Ume Arimoto in Minabe.

They started bright and early—waking at 5 AM and beginning the harvest by 6. Ready to work like true farmers! 🍑👩🏻‍🌾👨🏻‍🌾

That day was dedicated to harvesting ume for Umeboshi, so Tem and Oil gathered the fallen fruit from the blue net — unlike Umeshu, which requires handpicking directly from the tree.

It wasn’t easy — the farm sits on a small mountain with steep, uneven slopes, making it a real challenge just to stand steadily, let alone pick fruit. But they powered through like true pros!

The True Farmers Behind Minabe’s Umeshu

Arimoto-san and Hana-san

Meet the passionate duo behind Domaine Ume Arimoto — true artisans of ume and umeshu. With over ten years of hands-on experience, Arimoto-san and Hana-san live and breathe ume. They know each tree in their orchard by heart — even its age — just by looking.

Their dedication goes far beyond the harvest. From soil to bottle, every step reflects their care, knowledge, and craftsmanship. Thanks to their tireless work, Minabe’s umeshu is no longer just a local treasure — it is now recognized and celebrated around the world.

Each bottle tells their story — of tradition, passion, and a deep respect for nature.

If you’d like to taste the spirit of their work, try Plumity Black, Plumity White, Plumity Pink, and Plumity Green — each bottle tells a different chapter of their journey.

Please come to PRUMPLUM!

Lunch Break!

After a long morning of work in the orchard, it was time to rest and recharge. Lunch was a classic bento with umeboshi and juicy watermelon — simple, energizing, and satisfying. To top it off, a refreshing can of ume juice brought everyone back to life. !🍱🍉🍶

Cleaning and sorting ume by size

Once the harvest was done, baskets of freshly picked ume were carefully transported across a concrete weir and brought to the warehouse. There, each fruit was gently washed and sorted by size, ready for the next stage of the process.

Sorting the Ume by Size

Once cleaned, the freshly picked Nanko ume are carefully sorted into six size categories:

S | M | L | 2L | 3L | 4L

Each size has its own purpose:

S size → Used to make small umeboshi, known for their concentrated flavor.
M to 3L sizes → Delivered to JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) for nationwide distribution.
4L size → Reserved for crafting large, premium umeboshi — soft, juicy, and beautifully plump.