After some rough years, are Central Valley raisin growers back in the high life again?
California raisin farmers are heading into this year’s harvest season with one of the highest prices for their crop ever and a renewed hope for a shrinking industry.
Charles Salmon, president of the Raisin Bargaining Association in Fresno, said he expects the price for this year’s raisins to be $2,016 a ton. That would be the second highest price in the industry’s history, topped by the $2,150 a ton growers got for their 2018 crop.
Salmon said Monday that he has agreements for that price with National Raisin Company, Chooljian Brothers Packing, Lion Raisins, Sun Valley Raisins, Victor Packing and Central California Packing Company.
“It is shaping up to be a good year,” he said.
That comes as welcome news to an industry that has been battered over the years by low prices, increased foreign competition and shrinking acreage.
For decades, raisins have been synonymous with San Joaquin Valley agriculture. Sun-Maid, the century old farmers cooperative, helped make this tiny, wrinkled piece of dried fruit famous, especially after the launch of the iconic singing and dancing California Raisins marketing campaign in the mid-80s.
But even the wildly popular characters couldn’t prevent the monumental shift of farmers abandoning raisins in favor of higher-value crops, such as almonds, pistachios and citrus.
From 2000 to 2024, raisin grape acreage declined from 280,000 to about 70,000, said Kalem Barserian, farmer and former head of the Raisin Bargaining Association, a grower cooperative.
Even the 86-year-old Barserian, a venerated leader in the industry, got out. He sold his vineyards about three years ago.
“I left in 2021, but I still miss it, tremendously,” he said.
Salmon said the industry is in a better position this year compared to last, largely because the crop is expected to be larger, but still manageable. He estimates growers will produce about 200,000 tons of raisins this year.
The top foreign competitor Turkey is also expected to come in with a smaller crop, potentially improving U.S raisin export opportunities.
About two-thirds of U.S. raisins are consumed in the U.S. and Canada, with one-third exported to nearly 50 countries. Asia and Europe being the top two export markets, according to the Raisin Administrative Committee.
Adding to a better year for the industry is the $90 million purchase of raisins by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The raisins will be used in the school lunch program and distributed to the nation’s food banks.
This story was originally published August 28, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
