US (CA): New raisin grape holds promise for growers
Created by David Ramming, a famed U.S. Department of Agriculture plant breeder, the Sunpreme is like no other raisin grape available. Ramming, who has since retired, bred the grape to naturally dry on the vine. No canes need to be cut, and paper trays are not needed to dry the grapes in the sun.
This could be a real game changer for the raisin industry.
As one of the most labor-intensive crops grown in Fresno County, raisins require thousands of workers to complete the harvest. And over the years, the labor pool has begun to shrink, causing growers to either pull out their vines or switch to harvesting methods that require less labor.
To growers, Sunpreme represents the potential for a huge savings in labor and money. Without a need to cut canes, or clip bunches, the work of three or four people could replace that of dozens. It also holds the promise of helping to stabilize the exodus of growers pushing their raisin grapes out in favor of higher-value crops, like almonds, pistachios and citrus.
California’s raisin acreage has been declining steadily over the last decade, reaching a low of 185,000 acres this year, with a majority of that in Fresno County, according to the USDA. California, led by Fresno County, is the leading supplier of raisins in the nation.
Although farmers and nurseries have been anticipating the release of the grape for several years, it may be at least one more year before it becomes available.
Source: fresnobee.com
