The State of the Raisin Industry address was once again a big hit at Malcolm Media’s recent Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo. In addition to hearing from Raisin Bargaining Association representatives, Steve Loftus from Sun-Maid Growers shared his perspective of 2024 raisin harvest, how the global raisin market is performing, and what Sun-Maid is doing to build demand for California raisins with new product development and consumer outreach. Watch his brief interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network and read the full report in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
Tag: grape grower
-
Short California Winegrape Crop Doesn’t Fix Wine Market Troubles
While harvest is generally a highly anticipated time of the year for California wine grape growers, it was a real let down for growers that could not find a home for their crop. The global wine market remains depressed while supply and demand continues to be out of balance, despite the shorter crop that was delivered to the wineries this year. This is what Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo in his annual State of the Wine Industry address. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what growers can expect heading into 2025. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
-
Central Valley Wine Industry Losing Share in Brandy Market, Compounding Other Challenges
To compound the troubles Central Valley wine grape growers are already facing with a depressed global wine market amidst increased production costs, Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared some new trends in the brandy market that are beginning to negatively impact growers invested in that beverage category. Watch his brief interview with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network, and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
-
Bulk Wine Imports Putting California Growers out of Business
Time to address the elephant in the room — It’s no secret that the wine market is struggling right now, not just in California, but all over the world. To make matters worse, California grower’s wine grape crops are getting left unharvested and displaced at local wineries by cheap bulk wine being imported from other countries at disturbing levels. American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm met with Stuart Spencer from the Lodi Winegrape Commission to discuss this issue. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
-
U.S. Wine Industry Gathers to Discuss Opportunities and Value of Sustainability
The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance partnered with several wine grape industry organizations recently in hosting the 3rd U.S. Sustainable Winegrowing Summit in Lodi, CA. Attendees enjoyed a local vineyard and winery tour, and engaged in educational sessions highlighting the evolving definition of sustainability and its value to growers, vintners and consumers. American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm met with Allison Jordan, Executive Director of the Alliance, at the Summit to share some of these insights and remarkable progress of the U.S. wine industry in becoming certified sustainable. Watch this brief video and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.
-
Global Alcohol Beverage Consumption Drops, Impacting California Wine Industry
Wine grape growers may have difficulty finding a home for their crop this season due to a global decline in consumer demand for wine and alcoholic beverages overall. Watch this brief interview with Danny Brager of Brager Beverage Alcohol Consulting to learn more.
-
Compost Tax Credit Bill for California Farmers Progresses Through Legislature
California growers investing in compost to boost soil fertility on the farm may soon reap additional benefits in the form of a tax credit. Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) joined Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share how this promising CAWG-sponsored bill is currently making its way through legislature. Watch this brief video to learn more.
-
CAWG Pushes Legislation to Streamline Ag Employee Housing
California ranks last in both housing affordability and availability, compared to the rest of the United States. This is having a major impact on California farm workers who are having to commute long distances to get to work or are otherwise struggling to get by. Watch this brief interview with Michael Miiller from the California Association of Winegrape Growers as they push for legislative support to streamline the permitting process for on-farm ag employee housing. Read more about it in the May issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
-
Wine Grape Planting Trends & the Removal Need for Market Correction
Growers are not overplanting wine grape acreage in California, but they have fallen fall behind in removing old, underperforming vineyards and less desirable varieties. This is what Allied Grape Growers President Jeff Bitter shared at the 2024 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium upon release of their annual grapevine nursery survey report. Watch this brief interview as Jeff shares with American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm what the current planting trends look like and just how many vineyards need to be removed to bring the industry back into balance for a more sustainable future.