Raisin Industry Continues To Make Push Toward Maximizing Productivity, Minimizing Cost

摘要

New grapevine varieties and trellis systems facilitate mechanization of the California raisin industry.THE U.S. is the leading global producer of raisins, but the land area planted to raisin grapes in California peaked in the early 1980s and has steadily declined since then.Poor prices and high labor costs initiated vineyard pullouts, which have continued even after prices improved. Raisin vineyards continue to be removed due in part to continuing labor shortages and to the potential for better returns from other commodities, especially nut crops.