California Ag Network

Tag: grape grower

  • Impact of Tariffs on Wine Industry

    The wine industry continues to struggle with fewer buyers, while tariffs threaten to shrink the market further. A boycott by provincial governments in Canada is costing vineyards their second-most important wine market and some wineries are at risk of going out of business. At the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, The Wine Economist editor Mike Veseth spoke with Matthew Malcolm of California Ag Network about the impact of tariffs on the American Wine Industry. Watch this quick video and learn more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Bright Spots for the Wine Market

    The wine industry has been struggling since the pandemic, but there are some bright spots. The premium side of the market is doing relatively better than the value end, and there are opportunities with packaging and the ready-to-drink beverage category. Danny Brager with Azur Associates spoke with Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing at the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium to discuss the silver linings in the market. Watch this quick video and learn more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Wine Grape Growers Experienced Difficult Year with Fruit Left on Vine

    Wine grape growers had a difficult year despite favorable weather conditions through much of the season. There were a high number of rejections, with many grapes never making their way to the tank and vineyards getting mothballed. Mike Needham from Turrentine Brokerage discussed the state of wine grape growers at Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock and in an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network. Watch this brief video and learn more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • More Consistent Year-Round Availability of Table Grapes Builds Global Demand

    Despite a lighter crop, California table grape growers enjoyed a good season in 2025, and the global appetite for grapes is increasing. In an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, David Magaña from RaboResearch at Rabobank discusses the state of table grape industry with global market insights. Watch this brief interview and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter Outbreak in Turlock has Regional Grape Growers on High Alert

    A Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter find in Turlock back in August 2024 has led to an expanding quarantine in Stanislaus County. The primary vector for the grapevine-killing Pierce’s Disease, this insect pest is a top concern for the regional grape industry and the Stanislaus County Ag Department. At Malcolm Media’s Tree & Vine Expo in Turlock and in an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, Stanislaus County Ag Commissioner Linda Pinfold shared the details of the quarantine and their efforts with the community in eradicating this invasive pest from the county. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in the January issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

  • New Documentary Highlights Importance of Raisin Industry in Shaping the Central Valley

    Fresno County is the number one agricultural county in the nation, and grapes have long been among the top commodities bringing tremendous economic value to the community. Many of these grapes are grown by multi-generational farmers for raisin production.

    Byron Russell, a professor of film at Fresno State, took interest in his own family history with the raisin industry, leading to the development of a documentary highlighting the importance of the raisin industry in shaping the Central Valley as we know it today.

    Check out this brief interview, as Byron meets with Joseph Malcolm on California Ag Network to explain. Watch the full documentary HERE.

  • Raisin Growers Suffer Devastating Losses that Crop Insurance Won’t Cover

    California raisin growers were poised to enjoy a beautiful, high quality crop this year due to ideal spring and summer growing conditions. Stormy weather at harvest, however, followed by a cool spell, dampened their great expectations. American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm met with raisin growers Nick Melkonian and Doug Benik in an unharvested raisin vineyard to assess the situation. This year’s tragedy has also shed some light on a major gap in USDA RMA insurance coverage, impacting up to half of the raisin industry today. Watch this brief interview and learn more in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

  • California Raisin Harvest 2025 and Factors Shaping Grower Prices

    California raisin harvest is underway and growers are anxious to find out what they will get for this year’s crop. Raisin Bargaining Association Chairman Charles Salmon and board member Dwayne Cardoza met with American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share their outlook for this year’s crop with some concern for adverse weather at harvest and other factors influencing crop size and anticipated grower returns. Watch this brief interview, and save the date, Friday Nov. 14th for the annual State of the California Raisin Industry presentation at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds, featuring representatives from the Raisin Bargaining Association and Sun-Maid Growers.

  • 2025 California Wine Grape Crop Forecast & Path to Balance in the Market

    How much longer is the wine industry going to be in the tanks? California wine grape growers anticipate delivering a high quality crop to the wineries this year; however, many are concerned whether there will be a home for their grapes, due to the global decline in demand for wine and other alcoholic beverages. At the annual meeting of Allied Grape Growers, President Jeff Bitter shared that the industry will likely see some grapes go unharvested again this year. Watch this brief interview, as Jeff meets with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss the expectations for this year’s crop and where the industry needs to be supply-wise in order to return to balance with the decline in demand. Read more details in the August issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Why California is the Coldest State in the Nation

    At the annual Conference of the California Fresh Fruit Association, keynote speaker Nicola Twilley visited with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share insights the fresh produce industry in California can learn from a recent book she authored “Frostbite: How Refrigeration Changed Our Food, Our Planet, and Ourselves”. From the history of refrigeration and food preservation to the evolving consumer perception of what is considered fresh, watch this brief interview on an unexpectedly compelling topic.