California Ag Network

Category: Ag Economics

  • Processing Tomato Variety Evaluation for Tolerance/Susceptibility to New Soilborne Pathogen

    In recent years, there has been an increase in crown rot/vine decline problems in processing tomatoes. Many tolerant, as well as several susceptible tomato cultivars, have been identified from previous efforts funded by CTRI. The number of fields in the Sacramento Valley with confirmed Fusarium falciforme vine decline has been increasing each year. In 2022, eight new tomato fields were diagnosed in Sutter and Colusa counties, for a total of 20 fields since 2019. In 2021 and 2022, we worked with AgSeeds and evaluated processing tomato varieties in field trials for their tolerance or susceptibility to Fusarium falciforme by rating disease severity and sending diagnostic samples to the Swett lab at UC Davis for confirmations. Unfortunately, in 2021, we were unable to confirm F. falciforme in the particular fields we evaluated, however, in 2022, all three fields in Sutter County where we evaluated trials were positive for F. falciforme, along with Fusarium crown and root rot in 2/3 fields. We evaluated fields for advanced decline and whole plant collapse. Yield data was provided by AgSeeds. Below is a table with the average number of declined plants at our three field sites in Sutter County. The table also includes percent decline and yield for two of the fields. Also worth noting, field #2 was evaluated the day before harvest, whereas field #1 was evaluated a couple weeks before harvest and field # 3 was not harvested due to September rain events in 2022.

    The varieties with the highest decline are similar to results we have seen at other sites over the years and a more comprehensive table (developed by UCCE Vegetable Crops Advisor, Brenna Aegerter, in San Joaquin County) which can be found in my December 2022 newsletter. If you are interested in more results and information from other regions of the state, you can see Brenna’s article on pages 4-5 in the UCCE San Joaquin County Field Notes newsletter from February 2023. — By Brenna Aegerter, UCCE San Joaquin; Co-PIs: Tom Turini, UCCE Fresno; Amber Vinchesi-Vahl, UCCE Colusa/Sutter/Yuba; Cassandra Swett, UC Davis Extension Pathology Specialist; Collaborators: AgSeeds (Funded by California Tomato Research Institute)

  • Gerad Borrego Joins California Farmland Trust as New Development Director

    Gerad brings over twenty years of wealth management and commercial banking experience within the financial service sector to California Farmland Trust (CFT). While at SAFE Credit Union, Gerad developed and oversaw SAFE’s nonprofit platform, “SAFE Cares,” which provided financial resources and services to our region’s nonprofit organizations. While working directly with our region’s largest nonprofit organizations, Gerad was introduced to and developed a strong passion for fundraising and fund development.

    Over the next seven years, Gerad would serve our region’s largest Food Banks, building and caring for relationships with supporters, donors, and volunteers who provide these organizations with the support they need to do outstanding work within our shared communities. To ensure that the philanthropic vision of the donors he serves is honored and fulfilled, Gerad utilizes the most up-to-date development practices and resources, which includes his accreditation as a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE).

    While Gerad spent time at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, he longed to work with an organization closer to his hometown roots that can be found in the fertile soil of the Central Valley town of Caruthers in Fresno County. For these reasons, we are thrilled that Gerad has joined the CFT team and feel that his knowledge of finances and experience in managing major gift relationships within large-scale nonprofit organizations are valuable to our team and supporters.

    When you meet Gerad, ask him what he does in his abundance of free time outside the office. An abundance of time may be a bit of a stretch because he keeps very busy as a father of 8 children with his wife, Gina. Gerald spends every moment outside work with his family, enjoying the various sports and activities his children are involved in while sharing his love of hunting and fishing with them.

  • Kern County Potato Variety Trial Field Day, June 21

    The Annual UC Cooperative Extension and California Potato Research Advisory Board (CPRAB) Variety Trial Field Day is an opportunity to see tubers of potentially new varieties, how they performed this year, and how they performed compared to standard varieties. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Hart Memorial Park (8 miles northeast of downtown Bakersfield via Hwy 178 and Alfred Harrell Hwy).  Entries include varieties from numerous USDA, state, and private breeding programs. This year’s entries include Russets, chippers, reds, yellows, and specialty types. Tubers will be shown as how they look straight from the field after being washed.

    This is an opportunity to express your evaluations and recommendations about these varieties to University researchers, breeders, seed growers, and fellow growers.

    LOCATION! The Potato Field Day will be held in the shade near the bank of the Kern River at HART PARK. It will be located on the east end of the park in Section 2, just off Alfred Harrell Highway. Please see map on back for directions to Hart Park. Snacks and refreshments will be available.

    Potato Grower Meeting: You should be receiving a notice from the CPRAB for the annual potato grower’s dinner and informal meeting to be held the evening of the field day.

    For further information contact:

    Jaspreet Sidhu, Kern County Cooperative Extension, 661-304-8870 Nathan Sano, California Potato Research Advisory Board, 559-591-0436

  • Nearly 70% of Private Label Avocado Oil Rancid or Mixed With Other Oils

    Avocado oil has become a popular choice for many people in recent years because of its heart-healthy benefits and versatility in cooking. However, not all avocado oil products on store shelves are created equal. Some products are labeled as “pure” avocado oil when they contain other oils or additives. No enforceable standards defining the chemical and physical characteristics of avocado oil exist yet.

    Researchers at the University of California, Davis, analyzed samples of 36 private label avocado oil products and graded them based on quality and purity. Private label products are made by a third-party processor and sold under a grocery store or retailer brand label. Their findings, published in the journal Food Control, show that 31% of the samples tested were pure, and 36% were of advertised quality. Quality refers to whether the oil is fresh or has gone bad due to aging, heat or light exposure. For purity, researchers measured fatty acids, sterols and other components that differentiate avocado oil from other oils.

    The study included oils purchased from 19 retailers in the U.S. and Canada with various price points. They found that lower-priced oils were more likely to be tainted with other oils.

    “We found that low-cost products indicate a higher probability for adulteration, but high cost didn’t guarantee purity or quality,” said Selina Wang, associate professor of Cooperative Extension in the Department of Food Science and Technology. She and Hilary Green, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Davis, co-authored the paper.

    Researchers also identified certain chemical markers in avocado oil that professional retail buyers can use to make more informed decisions when it comes to choosing suppliers. This way, consumers can feel confident about the products they buy.

    This is the second comprehensive study conducted by UC Davis researchers on the quality of avocado oil sold in the U.S. The first study released in 2020 found that many of the test samples were of poor quality, mislabeled or adulterated with other oils.

    “This study demonstrates that although progress is being made in standard development since our first market study in 2020, there are still issues with purity in avocado oil and these issues extend significantly into private label oils,” Wang said.

    Avocado oil standards

    Since the release of the first UC Davis study, Wang said there’s been a coordinated effort by researchers, industry leaders and government agencies to establish enforceable standards. The Avocado Oil Expert Group was formed in collaboration with the American Oil Chemists’ Society to discuss potential standards and future research projects.

    Wang’s research group has been studying how natural factors like different types of avocados, harvest times, geographic origins and processing methods could affect the chemical composition of avocado oil. They want to create standards that will accommodate natural variations while detecting any adulterations.

    Wang hopes that the study’s findings will contribute to the establishment of standards that benefit both consumers and avocado oil producers who want to compete in a fair market.

    “I’m very optimistic for the future of the avocado oil industry,” Wang said. “It’s a high-value product with high consumer demand, similar to what I saw with olive oil 10 years ago. Olive oil quality and purity have improved significantly, which is where I see avocado oil going, if we can establish fair standards and eliminate fraudulent products.” — By Tiffany Dobbyn, UC Davis

  • USDA Seeks Feedback About 2023 Crops, Stocks, Inventories, and Values

    During the next several weeks, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey, and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 2,000 producers across California to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2023.

    “The June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey are two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS conducts,” explained NASS Pacific Regional Director Gary Keough. “When producers respond to these surveys, they provide essential information that helps determine the expected acreage and supply of major commodities in the United States for the 2023 crop year. The results are used by farmers and ranchers, USDA,businesses, exporters, researchers, economists, policymakers, and others to inform a wide range of decisions.”

    Producers can respond to the June Agricultural Survey online at www.agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail. They will be asked to provide information on planted and harvested acreage, including acreage for biotech crops and grain stocks. For the June Area Survey, agency representatives will interview farm and ranch operators in randomly selected segments over the phone. Producers will be asked to provide information on crop acreage, grain stocks, livestock inventory, land values, and value of sales.

    “NASS safeguards the privacy of all respondents, by keeping all individual information confidential and publishing the data in aggregate form only to ensure that no operation or producer can be identified,” said Keough. “We recognize that this is a hectic time for farmers, but the information they provide helps U.S. agriculture remain viable and capable. I urge them to respond to these surveys and thank them for their cooperation.”

    NASS will analyze the survey information and publish the results in a series of USDA reports, including the annual Acreage and quarterly Grain Stocks reports on June 30, 2023.

    Survey data also contribute to NASS’s monthly and annual Crop Production reports, the annual Small Grains Summary, annual Farms and Land in Farms and Land Values reports, various livestock reports, including Cattle, Sheep and Goats, and Hogs and Pigs, and USDA’s monthly World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates.

    These and all NASS reports are available at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications. For more information, call the NASS Pacific Regional Field Office at 1-800-851-1127.

  • Meat Institute Partners with IT-ISAC to Improve Cybersecurity with New Food & Ag ISAC

    The North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute) today announced a new partnership with the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC) on the launch of a Food and Agriculture ISAC to enhance cybersecurity for the meat and poultry industry.

    “We are grateful for the leadership of several of our members who helped found the Food and Agriculture ISAC to better prepare the industry to fight against the increasing threat of cyber attacks on our nation’s critical food infrastructure,” said Meat Institute President and CEO Julie Anna Potts. “As a partner, the Meat Institute will support the Food and Ag ISAC and will promote its value among our membership. It is important to collaborate across all of agriculture because we all make significant contributions to each of production in the food value chain.”

    An ISAC is a non-profit established by critical infrastructure owners and operators to foster information sharing and best practices about physical and cyber threats and mitigation. These member-lead organizations collaborate with each other, partners such as the Meat Institute, other sector ISACs, the Department of Homeland Security, academics and other stakeholders.

    The Food and Ag-ISAC provides threat intelligence, analysis, and effective security practices that help food and agriculture companies detect attacks, respond to incidents, and share indicators so they can better protect themselves and manage risks to their companies and the sector.

    Food and Agriculture industry companies may apply to join the Food and Ag-ISAC and those who are already members of the IT-ISAC can join the newly launched center for no additional cost. Founding Board members of the Food and Ag-ISAC are Bunge Limited, Inc., Cargill, Conagra Brands, Corteva Agriscience, Inc. PepsiCo, and Tyson Foods.

    For more background on ISAC’s, go here.

    In 2021, the Meat Institute’s Executive Board voted for cybersecurity to be a noncompetitive subject and established a Cybersecurity Committee.

    About North American Meat Institute
    The Meat Institute is the United States’ oldest and largest trade association representing packers and processors of beef, pork, lamb, veal, turkey, and processed meat products. NAMI members include over 350 meat packing and processing companies, the majority of which have fewer than 100 employees, and account for over 95 percent of the United States’ output of meat and 70 percent of turkey production.

  • USDA Invites Input on Crop Insurance Coverage for Prevented Planting

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a Request for Information today, announcing public listening sessions and soliciting public comments on possible changes to prevented planting crop insurance coverage.  Coinciding with the public comment period, USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will hold in-person and virtual listening sessions June through August. This includes in-person listening sessions in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Texas. Meanwhile, RMA will accept written comments through its request for information until September 1.

    “We truly care what our customers – the Nation’s agricultural producers – have to say. That’s why we’re hosting listening sessions in 11 states in addition to accepting written comments,” said RMA Administrator Marcia Bunger. “We listen to their needs so that we can adapt, improve, and help them manage their risks and provide better opportunities to protect their operations.”

    The request for information on prevented planting requests input on prevented planting topics to include:

    • Harvest Price Option – Feedback on whether to allow the prevented planting payment calculations to be based on the higher of projected price or harvest price under the revenue protection plan of insurance.
    • “1 in 4” Rule – Input on the challenges or experiences since the rule (to be eligible for a prevented planting coverage acreage must have been planted to a crop, insured, and harvested in at least 1 out of the previous 4 crop years) was implemented nationwide.
    • 10 percent additional coverage option – Input on if RMA should reinstate the option to buy-up prevented planting coverage by 10 percent.
    • Contract price – Whether prevented planting costs are higher for contracted crops and how prevented planting payments should be calculated for contract crops.
    • General – Willingness to pay additional premium for expanded prevented planting benefits, recommendations on other prevented planting limitations, etc.  

    RMA will hold a virtual listening session via Microsoft Teams on June 8 and at least a dozen in-person sessions over the next few months. Additional details on the listening sessions are available on the RMA website.

    The request for information, which includes details for submitting feedback, is available in this Federal Register notice.

    Prevented planting insurance provisions provide valuable coverage when extreme weather conditions prevent expected plantings. Prevented planting is when a producer is unable to plant an insured crop due to an insurable cause of loss in time to grow a viable crop. Final planting dates and late planting periods are detailed in a producer’s crop insurance policy, and they vary by crop and location. Prevented planting coverage is intended to assist with normal costs associated with preparing the land up to the point of seed going into the ground (pre-plant costs).

    More Information

    Crop insurance is sold and delivered solely through private crop insurance agents. A list of crop insurance agents is available at all USDA Service Centers and online at the RMA Agent Locator. Learn more about crop insurance and the modern farm safety net at rma.usda.gov or by contacting your RMA Regional Office.

  • CAWG Foundation Awards $44,000 in Student Scholarships

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation has awarded $44,000 in college scholarships to eight students whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower.

    “The scholarships, awarded annually by the CAWG Foundation, serve as a powerful testament to our profound gratitude for the families of vineyard employees. The workforce is the very essence of our industry, and these scholarships stand as a heartfelt expression of our immense appreciation,” stated Davindar Mahil, Chair of the CAWG Foundation Board of Directors.

    The CAWG Foundation board selects scholarship recipients who have truly excelled in various aspects. From academic achievement and involvement in extracurricular activities to making a positive impact through public service and active community engagement. In addition to considering financial need and scholastic ability, the board also values a strong spirit of community service, a track record of leadership, and a personal essay that embodies their journey.

    Since the program’s inception in 1998, the CAWG Foundation has awarded $603,500 in scholarships to help students pursue higher education. Generous donations from CAWG members and the California wine community fund the scholarship program.

    This year, five scholarships at $8,000 each were awarded to students attending a four-year University of California or California State University campus, one two-year scholarship at $2,000 was awarded to a student attending a California community college, and two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to students through the Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship. Created by the Miller family, the Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship supports Central Coast students who plan to pursue a career in the winegrape industry and are studying viticulture or enology at either Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

    Four-Year University Scholarship Recipients / $8,000 each

    Sofia Arredondo, Lakeport, Clear Lake High School Harmandeep Batth, Lodi, Tokay High School
    Faith Hunt, Lodi, Lodi High School
    Julie Sporleder, Acampo, Galt High School

    Juan Sanchez Velazquez, Santa Rosa, Roseland Collegiate Prep

    Two-Year Community College Scholarship Recipient / $2,000

    Edgar L. Jara, Santa Rosa, Roseland University Prep

    Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship / $1,000 each

    David Luera, Creston, Mission Prep High School Mindy Diaz Jacobo, Lompoc, Cabrillo High School

    FOUR-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP / $8,000 EACH

    Sofia Arredondo, Lakeport, Clear Lake High School

    Sofia is a hardworking first-generation college student who hopes to own her own business and/or work in the sports industry. Sofia has excelled in school, being named one of her high school’s top 40 students, an award that she was nominated for and voted on by staff. She has excelled in school, skipping a grade, while maintaining a 4.0 GPA and being actively involved in CSF, student council, and golf. Sofia attended a CADA/CASL leadership conference at UC Santa Barbara where she grew as a leader. She plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the fall and major in business.

    Harmandeep Batth, Lodi, Tokay High School

    Harmandeep is a passionate and dedicated student with a strong appreciation for the field of science. In the fourth grade, Harmandeep joined the Science Olympiad team and his love for science has never wavered. He served as the captain of the Tokay High School’s Varsity Science Olympiad team where he broadened his knowledge in all aspects of science. This experience led him to his career goal of becoming a healthcare professional. He hopes to one day provide quality healthcare in the Central Valley. Harmandeep has volunteered within his community at the Sikh Temple, San Joaquin County Medical Society, and the NorCal Science Festival. Harmandeep plans to attend UCLA, majoring in Biochemistry with a minor in Agricultural Pest Management.

    Faith Hunt, Lodi, Lodi High School

    Faith is the first in her family to graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. She is goal- oriented, driven, and values her education. Throughout her high school career, Faith has been active in 4-H and FFA and was one of 43 seniors to receive a gold academic pin for being involved in scholastic extracurriculars while maintaining multiple jobs. Faith plans to become an agricultural inspector after college because of a passion she developed through livestock and crop judging contests in FFA. Faith is a dynamic leader and served as the Mother Lode Sectional FFA Vice President. Faith plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the fall majoring in Agricultural Business.

    Juan Sanchez Velazquez, Santa Rosa, Roseland Collegiate Prep

    Juan is an eager and dedicated student who is actively involved in his school and community. Born in Mexico, Juan and his family immigrated to California in 2010. Juan will be the first in his family to achieve their dream of a college education. Juan is a devoted student and has maintained a 4.0 since the seventh grade, and recently received many awards for his scholastic achievements including Advanced Honor Roll, Exemplary Award, Most Improved, and Outstanding Academic Success. He has an exceptional work ethic and is intrinsically motivated by his desire for knowledge. Juan plans to attend Cal Poly, Pomona or San Diego State in the fall majoring in Hospitality and Tourism.

    Julie Sporleder, Acampo, Galt High School

    Julie is a goal-oriented student with a deep appreciation for the winegrape industry. Julie’s career path took shape when she completed her first Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) in FFA working in a vineyard with her grandfather. She performed all tasks including tying grapes, pruning vines, and conducting sugar tests. Her experience in FFA helped shape her career goal to grow winegrapes and work as a grape processor. Julie is actively involved in sports, extracurricular activities, and community service projects while maintaining a 4.1 grade point average. Pursuing grape production is more than

    just a SAE project to Julie, it is a way to continue her family’s history – something she deeply values. Julie plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and major in Viticulture and Enology.

    TWO-YEAR SCHOLARSHIP/ $2,000 EACH

    Edgar L. Jara, Santa Rosa, Roseland University Prep

    Edgar is the son of immigrant parents who pushed him to focus on his education and pursue a college degree. Edgar’s dedication to his studies and his exceptional critical thinking capabilities drive his aspirations to major in music and become an audio engineer. He is passionate about music production in all forms including music, movies, and video games. Edgar takes his education very seriously and is enamored with studying Spanish-speaking culture. Outside of school, Edgar volunteers at Ironman Triathlons because of his desire to help others and learn about the effort and commitment required to put on these events. Edgar values giving back to his community through volunteer activities. Edgar plans on attending Santa Rosa Junior College in the fall.

    ROBERT MILLER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP / $1000

    David Luera, Creston, Mission Prep High School

    David is a tenacious, resilient, motivated, and hardworking student who has shown great leadership in his extracurricular activities at Mission Prep High School. David has a deep history in the agricultural industry, growing up on his family’s ranch, one that he hopes to continue as he gains knowledge and further understanding of the wine, farming, and business industries. David raised livestock and participated in 4-H since he was 5 years old and worked at multiple wineries in Paso Robles where he was able to explore different aspects of the industry. David plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the fall majoring in Viticulture and Enology.

    Mindy Diaz Jacobo, Lompoc, Cabrillo High School

    Mindy is a first-generation college student with a strong love for the winegrape industry that has been a part of her life since she was born. Her enthusiasm for the cultivation of winegrapes comes from working alongside her grandfather and father in the vineyard on the weekends. In high school, Mindy was a part of the Cabrillo High School Viticulture Program where she became the Vineyard Manager Lead. As the lead, Mindy managed the vineyard including identifying brix levels, tending to irrigation problems, pruning, and more. Mindy plans to attend Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo in the fall majoring in Viticulture & Enology to achieve her career goal of becoming a vineyard manager.

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation

    The CAWG Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation that awards scholarships to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. For more information, visit www.cawgfoundation.org.

  • Leon Panetta, Chairman of the Panetta Institute of Public Policy, Will Keynote the Salinas Biological Summit

    Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, the Chairman of the Panetta Institute of Public Policy, will deliver the keynote address at the Salinas Biological Summit, speaking on the topic of food security and innovation. Registration is now open to attend the event, which will be held June 20-21, 2023 at CSU Monterey Bay’s Salinas City Center.

    Co-presented by Western Growers and New Zealand-based agrifood tech consultancy Wharf42, the 2023 Salinas Biological Summit will provide an opportunity for growers to increase their awareness of available biological solutions to address their soil and plant needs, as well as a chance for agricultural businesses to learn about the disruptive science and start-up activity led by innovators in the crop protection space.

    “We are honored and pleased that Secretary Panetta will be joining us as the keynote speaker for the Salinas Biological Summit,” said Dennis Donohue, Executive Director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation and Technology. “His focus on food security, innovation and the value of global collaboration by the ag sector underscores the importance of the WG biological initiative.”

    Unanimously confirmed in 2011 by the U.S. Senate as the 23rd Secretary of Defense,  Panetta has had a 50-year career in public service at the highest levels of government.  As Secretary of Defense, he established a new defense strategy and expanded service opportunities for women and others regardless of race, creed, color or gender.  As Director of the CIA, he successfully led the operation that brought Osama bin Laden to justice.

    Panetta began his public service career in 1964 as a First Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, receiving the Army Commendation Medal, and then served as a legislative assistant to U.S. Senator Tom Kuchel.  In 1969, he was appointed Director of the Office for Civil Rights at the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, where he was responsible for enforcing equal education laws.

    Elected to Congress in 1976, Panetta represented the California Central Coast district for 16 years and created the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. In 1993, he was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for the Clinton administration and later was appointed White House chief of staff, working to achieve a balanced federal budget.

    In 1997, Panetta returned to his home town of Monterey to establish and co-direct The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, a non-partisan, not-for-profit study center that seeks to inspire men and women to lives of public service.

    Additional speakers at the Salinas Biological Summit include Dave Puglia, President & CEO of Western Growers; Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture; Julie Henderson, Director, California Department of Pesticide Regulation; Don Cameron, Vice President and General Manager of Terranova Ranch; Pam Marrone, CEO and Founder, Chestnut Bio Advisors; and Scott Kumar, SVP of Global R&D at Driscoll’s.

    Hotel accommodations and the agenda for the Salinas Biological Summit can be found here. Accredited members of the press can register for free by clicking here.

    About Western Growers:

    Founded in 1926, Western Growers represents local and regional family farmers growing fresh produce in California, Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Western Growers’ members and their workers provide over half the nation’s fresh fruits, vegetables and tree nuts, including half of America’s fresh organic produce. Connect and learn more about Western Growers on Twitter and Facebook.

  • CA Raisin Grower Shares Experience with Two New Complete DOV Varieties

    As the cost of labor increases and availability around harvest tightens, California raisin growers are hopeful that two new complete dried on the vine (DOV) varieties will make a big difference for the future of the industry.  Austin Hubbell of Marthedal Enterprises is one such grower who has had the unique experience in harvesting both varieties, which appear to have promise.  Watch this video with Austin and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor Ranch Systems for their industry support.