Growers were grateful for the additional rain we got this year; however, due to abnormal weather conditions in the early season, the raisin crop is looking to be much shorter this year, and the sudden rainstorm that hit last week did not help the situation, as many growers still had raisins drying out in the vineyard. Watch this brief interview …

As labor grows tighter, growers are mechanizing their operations as much as possible; however, the need for a solid seasonal labor force is not going away anytime soon. Although not an easy one to utilize, the H2A Ag guestworker program is what more and more growers and farm labor contractors are using to meet their labor needs. Watch this brief …

The California raisin crop is down, and coupled with a greater demand for green grapes at the wineries this year, raisin packers are already making much higher offers to their growers for their crops this season. Watch this video interview with Kalem Barserian, CEO of the Raisin Bargaining Association, as he explains more, and read more in the coming issue …

[wpdevart_youtube]XGaF412QqFk[/wpdevart_youtube] Other than the extreme heat beating down on grapes without sufficient canopy cover, the wine grape crop in California is progressing quite well. Watch California Ag Network’s interview with Jeff Bitter from Allied Grape Growers as he provides an update on the 2017 wine grape crop and the direction that current wine marketing trends are headed. Read more about …

[wpdevart_youtube]Ngd2mKDBU6Q[/wpdevart_youtube] Temecula Vineyard Manager Greg Pennyroyal was featured in the May issue of American Vineyard Magazine, and we hoped you enjoyed reading his story. Now check out his video interview here to see what’s going on right now in the vineyard and what he is doing to protect his grapes to ensure a quality crop this year.

[wpdevart_youtube]eng9A9oa5is[/wpdevart_youtube] The Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara is a unique area to grow grapes. Watch this brief interview with wine grape grower Larry Saarloos as he shares what’s going on in his vineyard currently. Read more in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

[wpdevart_youtube]SzKXXtMtUDQ[/wpdevart_youtube] Bunch counts are in, temperatures are rising and growers are working to keep their vines clean of pests and diseases. Meanwhile at the Raisin Bargaining Association, here is Kalem Barserian with an update on raisin shipments, acreage trends, and their efforts to support the industry after hitting rock bottom pricing for last year’s crop. Watch this brief video and …

[wpdevart_youtube]tS7TeggHg7U[/wpdevart_youtube] The Raisin Bargaining Association (RBA) has been proudly serving raisin growers for 50 years now. As in any crop industry, the raisin industry has had its ups and downs, and last year was not an easy one; but the RBA remains dedicated to helping raisin growers get the best possible price for their crop. Watch this interview with RBA …

[wpdevart_youtube]j3nNBuaPxeQ[/wpdevart_youtube] At a press conference during Unified Wine & Grape Symposium, Karissa Kruse, President of Sonoma County Winegrowers gave a progress report on their commitment to achieve 100% sustainability, as well as recent consumer trends and their willingness to pay more for sustainable wines. Watch Karissa’s brief interview with California Ag Network and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

[wpdevart_youtube]PkxdGBdVeWc[/wpdevart_youtube] The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) recently announced Michael Miiller as their new Director of Government Relations. Michael has many years of experience working with legislature and he has already hit the ground running advocating on behalf of growers in his new position, especially with the CAWG day at Capitol Hill coming up on March 15. Watch this …