California Ag Network

Tag: State of the Raisin Industry

  • Global Raisin Production Decline Could Help Growers After Rains

    Poorly timed rains led to difficulties in the 2025 harvest, but California raisin growers might benefit from international market conditions.
    This includes a below average crop in Turkey and tariffs boosting domestic sales. At Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Fruit Tree Expo and in an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, Sun-Maid Growers President/CEO Steve Loftus shared the state of raisin industry. Watch this quick video and learn more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • 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.

  • RBA Celebrates Gov’t Raisin Buys, Shares Factors that will Shape Grower Prices in 2025

    California raisin growers received the second highest price ever for this past year’s crop, which is much needed as growers fight inflating production costs. While the 2025 crop is in early development and growers are far from knowing what their return will look like postharvest, Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA) leaders Charles Salmon and Dwayne Cardoza visited with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network to share some of the factors that will shape raisin pricing moving forward, such as USDA purchases, foreign imports, etc… Watch this video and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor SIPCAM AGRO USA for their industry support.

  • 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.

  • Record Government Purchase of California Raisins Announced

    With California raisin harvest underway, growers are confident that more of their raisins will have a home domestically due to record USDA purchases of their raisins announced recently.  Watch this brief interview with Raisin Bargaining Association representatives Charles Salmon and Dwayne Cardoza for more details on the government buys and the status of price negotiations for the 2023 raisin crop.  And save the date for the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 10, 2023 at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds for American Vineyard’s annual State of the Raisin Industry Report.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor the U.S Department of Agriculture for their industry support.

  • State of the California Raisin Industry with Steve Kister

    From the Annual Meeting of Sun-Maid Growers, watch this brief interview with Chairman of the Board Steve Kister as he reports on the results of the 2022 crop and State of the Raisin Industry.  Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

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

  • Sun-Maid Leadership Changes, Overly Takes New Role

    There have been rumors that Sun-Maid Growers’ CEO has left to take the position as CEO of another snacking food company.  Watch this video interview with outgoing CEO Harry Overly as he clarifies his position at Sun-Maid.  Read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

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

  • The Purpose of the California Raisin Administrative Committee

    Monte Schutz, Chairman of the Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC), was among the panelists sharing their views of the current State of the California Raisin Industry this year at the annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo.  Watch this brief interview with Monte as he reminds growers of some of the essential roles the RAC plays in serving the industry.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

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