Mechanically Harvested Raisins Still In The Minority
May 14, 2014 The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that total raisin grape acreage harvested by mechanical means was 31,483, just over 16% of the California’s total raisin-type grape acreage.
The overhead trellis management system seems destined to become the most popular growing system. Grapes are dried directly on the vine (DOV), forming a canopy over the rows. It allows the mechanical grape harvester to get underneath and gather the dried fruit. It was used on 14,604 bearing acres in 2013, accounting for 8% of the total raisin-type grape acreage.
Fresno and Madera County growers have 41% and 36%, respectively, of the overhead trellis acreage in the state. Kern County growers have 21% of the overhead trellis acreage.
An equally popular mechanical harvest system was continuous tray, in which grapes are mechanically harvested and laid out on a continuous (rather than individual) thin sheet of paper where they dry in the sun for two or three weeks. The system also accounted for 8% of the acreage.
The least popular mechanical harvest system was south side, in which vineyards are planted with an east-west row orientation. An angled cross-arm is added to each trellis stake to support two wires on which fruiting canes are tied. The southern exposure of the fruit facilitates drying. The raisins may then be harvested mechanically with a south side harvester. The system accounted for less than ½ of 1% of the raisin-type grape acreage.
Fresno County has the most acreage with mechanical harvesting, at 19,121, 14% of the Fresno County raisin-type grape acreage. But Kern and Madera County growers harvest 25% and 27% of their raisin-type grape acreage by mechanical means, respectively.
By variety, Thompson Seedless grape acreage with mechanical harvesting is 21,344 or 12% of the total raisin-type grape acreage. Newer varieties are much more likely to be harvested mechanically, with Fiesta grape acreage at 62% and Selma Pete at 46%.
Most California raisins are produced by sun drying after placing the bunches on paper trays on terraces between vine rows. The overhead trellis system has led to increased production of DOV raisins, increased machine harvesting, and decreased hand labor use.
Source: USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service
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