California Ag Network

Tag: Raisin Receiving Station

  • 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.

  • Raisin Bargaining Association Negotiates Early, High Price for 2024 Crop

    The Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA) recently announced the second highest ever minimum price for the 2024 California raisin crop, agreed to by most of their signatory packers. This is pretty historic for the early time of negotiations and in the timely manner in which RBA growers can expect to get paid for their crop. RBA Chairman Charles Salmon and board member Dwayne Cardoza met with American Vineyard Magazine Editor Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to discuss the terms of the announced price and their strategy for incremental prices increases in the future to bring greater stability to the industry.  Watch this brief interview, and don’t miss the State of the California Raisin Industry address at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on Nov. 8th at the Fresno Fairgrounds.  Register to attend free at https://agexpo.biz/.

  • Raisin Bargaining Association Relocates & Reports Priorities Moving Forward

    The Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA) recently held their 58th annual meeting, reporting on the successes and challenges of previous season and their outlook for 2024. American Vineyard Editor Matthew Malcolm met with RBA Chairman Charles Salmon to discuss this as well as the motive behind relocating their headquarters from downtown Fresno to their receiving station. Watch this brief interview and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • California Raisin Outlook: Prices, Production & the RBA

    Watch this brief interview with Dwayne Cardoza from the Raisin Bargaining Association as he shared some key insights on the current state of the California raisin industry at their recent annual meeting.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

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