Thanks to Marvin Horne for challenge to raisin rules

The recent Supreme Court decision regarding the raisin industry may not be understood by most.

Kerman grower Marvin Horne sued and prevailed. The raisin industry operated on a set aside program to maintain stabilized prices. Some years, the set aside was 50%. So, even though the advertised price in the paper was $1,200 a ton, in reality, it was $600 to the grower.

This is what Supreme Court Justice John Roberts saw as a “taking” of private property. This ruling was long in coming, and I thank Marvin Horne for his efforts.

Today I received a “final payment” for raisins delivered in 2009, six years ago. They figured the reserve price at 5 cents a pound, $100 a ton. The cultural cost for this raisin was the same as the one next to it that we were paid the full price for. Slavery still exists, it just goes by a term called “the marketing order.”

It is a moot point now, because the price of water makes raisin production out of the question. Can’t wait for next year to get my final payment for 2010.

This story was originally published July 13, 2015 at 9:44 AM with the headline "Thanks to Marvin Horne for challenge to raisin rules."