California Ag Network

Tag: Raisin Crop Insurance

  • 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.

  • Preparing to Harvest Raisins Under Smoky Skies: What Growers Need to Know

    Most agricultural news coverage of the wildfire impact last year focused on the wine grape industry.  Though raisins don’t share the same concern for smoke taint as wine grapes, the lack of radiant sunlight due to smoky overcast skies had a significant effect on the sugar accumulation and natural drying process for much of Central Valley raisin crop last year.  Watch this brief interview with UCCE Viticulture Advisor George Zhuang as he shares some key insights for growers moving into another dry season, and how to better prepare for harvest should last year’s circumstances reoccur.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Vmech for their industry support.