High & Dry 05/09/2012
 PIP COURTNEY, PRESENTER: The dried vine fruit industry is poised for a revival after a dismal decade of drought, floods and poor prices. With high demand and processors now paying top dollar, growers are hoping this will be the year that gets them back on their feet. But as Kerry Staight reports, while the volatile vine fruit industry's prospects are finally looking up, a traditionally stable dried fruit has taken a dive. KERRY STAIGHT, REPORTER: If grape growers could write a recipe for a successful dried-fruit harvest, it would look pretty much like this. Clear skies, plenty of sunlight and golden sultanas. TONY MARTIN, DRIED FRUIT PRODUCER, MERBEIN VIC.: Well the general feeling of the growers at the moment is that there is a good quality crop out there, probably not huge, but the fruit is sound, the berries are sound and the potential to get good fruit out of this year's crop is just fantastic. KERRY STAIGHT: And with global stocks dwindling, this season the market has delivered the other essential ingredient. MARK KING, DRIED FRUITS AUSTRALIA: The prices this year are great. They're the best they've ever been. They got to about $1,800 back a few years ago and then they went down to $1,200 dollars and they've gradually built up to $2,200-$2,100 that they are today. They're used to be a great carryover of dried fruit in the world - 200-300 tonnes a year. Now there might be 100,000 tonne carried over and most of the producing countries are actually scaling down dried fruit. So supply and demand. There's just not the grapes there that they're used to be. KERRY STAIGHT: Not surprisingly growers are eager to get their crop off and cash in. Tony Martin is one of the first to start harvesting at his property in the Sunraysia region, the heart of Australia's dried vine fruit industry. Source: ABC News, Broadcast: 22/04/2012 1:20:57 PM, Reporter: Kerry Staight Add Comment  FRESNO, Calif. — A storm dumped more than an inch of rain on parts of California's agricultural heartland in less than five hours, flooding streets, uprooting trees and soaking a bumper crop of raisins drying in vineyards. The storm hit Tuesday in Northern California, then swept through the central portions before bringing rainfall to Southern California by midmorning on Wednesday. A live web cam at China Peak in the central Sierra Nevada showed snow accumulation on the slopes. Squaw Valley USA reported eight inches of new snow overnight, with up to nine more predicted by Thursday. The snow forced the closing of the 9,300-foot Tioga Pass through Yosemite National Park. "It is an early winter storm. It is not unheard of to have one this early," said Cindy Bean, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Hanford. The storm was especially painful to California's agriculture industry. Leading up to the deluge, alfalfa growers worked to bale late cuttings, and cotton growers were scrambling to harvest before the storm hit. Rain can soak bolls and cause the cotton to fall out, making it unusable. Wine grape growers, who are in the midst of harvest, generally did not expect the rain to be as much of a problem as it would have been if it had come earlier, when mold can develop. In Napa County, only cabernet sauvignon remains in the fields, and its thick skin serves as a protection, growers said. On the Central Coast, growers in the midst of harvest said the rain would serve to wash the dust from the grapes, but likely would not cause damage. Source: By TRACIE CONE The Associated Press Sultanas Crop Report- Sep. 2011 09/07/2011
Iranian Sultanas / Raisins Crop Report - September 2011 1- The Sultanas / Raisins crop all over six major grapes growing regions has been reported to be in a good shape. Except for the Azerbaijan province where due to the severe temperature drop down during the spring which caused almost 30% drop in total production of that province. All in all, an average of 20% increase in total crop volume size comparing to the last crop year was anticipated. Some incoming reports stated 180,000 metric tons of production; Total 25 to 35 thousand metric tons are being consumed domestically and the rest to be exported (approximately 150,000). 2- Rainfall in three major provinces which happened from August 27th to 30th has made many farmers to prefer to dry the raisins 1 or 2 weeks prior to the normal drying timing. To avoid possible mould or decay problem. This fact will cause reduction in crop size produced at these provinces by 15% to 20% due to having small or immature berries. 3- Considering the fact above, the total crop size may be reduced to 150,000 with total exportation of 130,000. Yet this is just basic estimation and firm results will come in once the grapes are all harvested and converted into raisins. 4- The conversion process has begun by the beginning of September and it will take approximately a month till all the grapes are dried. Should we have a sunny weather with no rain during the drying process, then we expect extraction of a good crop with fairly good quality. 5- The first batches of the new crop are expected to enter the market by next 10 days. Considering the processing time, we expect to be able to ship the first containers by the end of September. 6- The prices on the other hand will be determined by the time the goods in large quantities are in the market.  The Raisin Administrative Committee (RAC) has voted unanimously to establish 100 percent free tonnage for the 2011 crop of California Natural Seedless (NTS) raisin crop. This means that the upcoming crop approaching harvest in the Fresno area will not be subject to volume regulation and a reserve pool will not be created. Growers are currently scheduled to receive a $1,500 per ton field price as was negotiated by the Raisin Bargaining Association in 2010. This is the second consecutive year without volume regulation for NTS raisins, the predominant variety for the world’s leading producer of dried grapes. The action is a result of the decreased carryover inventory of raisins from past years’ levels. In its meeting on Aug. 15, the carryover inventory was announced at 110,206 natural condition tons. This compares with an average for the past 10 years of 172,515, including a high of over 269,000 tons in 2001. Other key crop year statistics reviewed by the Committee on included:
 Top Destinations for California Natural Seedless Raisins in 2010-2011 were:  - Source: Western Farm Press  The company Shata Trading Inc. are recalling their Three Rivers Brand Golden Raisins because they contain undeclared sulfites. The Three Rivers brand raisins are sold in 400g, uncoded, clear plastic bags and distributed in the state of New York. What are Sulfites? They are preservatives and enhancers added to food. They also occur naturally in wine and beer during manufacturer of those products. In 1986, the FDA banned sulfite use on fresh fruit and vegetables but it is still present in many pre-packed or processed foods. It is legal for them to be present in these foods but manufacturers must declare so on the label. Around one in 100 people are sensitive to sulfite, ranging from mild sensitivity to life threatening allergic reaction. Consumers who have purchased Three Rivers Brand Golden Raisins are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 718-369-7000. Sources: FDA Press Release, 28th July 2011 - http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm265882.htm Allergies and Sulfite Sensitivity, Web M.D, page accessed 29th July 2011 - Reviewed July 29, 2011/ Michele Blacksberg / Shannon Koehle Raisin Rebound! 07/26/2011
 Demand for raisin grapes is so hot that the industry's packers are working feverishly to make sure they have enough raisins to sell. Raisin farmers have struggled over the years with too much fruit and low returns -- but now they may have one of their best years ever as prices reach a near record. "I can't remember when it has been this good," said Monte Schutz, a raisin grower from Caruthers. The reasons for the rebound: steady consumer demand, smaller crops and growing interest in raisin grapes among the state's wineries. Demand for raisin grapes is so hot that the industry's packers are working feverishly to make sure they have enough raisins to sell. All this comes as welcome news to central San Joaquin Valley growers, who produce nearly the entire U.S. crop and employ thousands of workers for the late-summer harvest Source: Western Farm Press  THE Turkish sultana market is still active as buyers are covering their summer needs before the new crop starts in September 2011. Supply of last year's crop is said to be limited at 10 000 tonnes, with the majority of sultanas already exported or traded internally. Friday June 24 2011 FoodnewsVolume: 39 Issue: 25  ALMOST all of the grapevines in the Axarquia region have been affected by a plague of mildew. Losses on crops are expected to reach up to 80 per cent according to the mayor of El Borge, Salvador Fernandez, who also said that the plague, caused by a fungus which has grown stronger thanks to the heavy rains and high temperatures of the past spring, is causing severe damages in the town which is one of the area’s main producers of grapes and the main source for Malaga raisins. Experts from the Velez Regional Farming Office and the Junta de Andalucia Agriculture and Fishery Delegation have visited El Borge to evaluate the damages. This report will be used to carry out necessary procedures so that the loss of crops is not included in the reduction of amounts subsidized by EU funds. The Mayor plans to meet with the provincial representative of the Agriculture and Fishery Department, Monica Bermudez, to speed up the process. Source: Euro Weekly News  DRIED fruit growers have been urged to put the pain of this season behind them and look forward to a bright future. The Dried Fruit Australia annual growers' forum at Mildura last week heard strong demand for Australian-grown quality, light-coloured fruit, locally and overseas, and the loss of half of this year's crop to rain damage and disease had kept prices up. In what was almost a carbon copy of last year's presentation, Sunbeam Foods chief operating officer Richard Findlay came close to begging growers to consider expanding the area planted to dried fruit varieties. His plea was echoed by DFA chairman Mark King ,who said it had been "the worst year", but dried fruit producers were still in a better position than wine grape growers. "I've asked myself several times this year, why would you want to do this?" Mr King said. "But mates of mine went off to an Orlando (wine) meeting the other day and told me they were told it's going to be four or five years before they turn around, so where we are is a lot better." Mr Findlay said everyone involved in dried fruit had suffered from the disastrous season, which yielded a record-low crop of about 7000 tonnes, but it was time to look forward. "In Australia, we simply haven't got enough of what people want," he said. "There is domestic demand for 40,000 tonnes. We produced 15,000 tonnes last year. If we could get back to 25,000 or 30,000 tonnes, there is a good opportunity for us. "We want an industry that is sustainable." Mr Findlay said the new varieties, sun glo sultanas and black gem currants, which were much more resistant to disease and rain damage than existing varieties and due to be released this year, would be helpful for the industry. Source: Sandra Godwin - Weekly Times California Raisins Sees Strong Growth 07/10/2011
 California Raisins sees strong growth - Published: 07 July, 2011 The use of California Raisins among craft bakers has doubled in the past five years to an average of 11 tonnes per baker, according to UK and Europe marketing director Peter Meadows. Speaking at the annual National Dried Fruit Trade Association Review, where he was elected to the council for the first time, Meadows attributed the rise in use to strong listings in bakery wholesalers Bako and BFP and strong promotional activity throughout the baking industry. Meadows told British Baker: "We also devised a national strategy for those with 15-50 shops. We had to wear a 30% price increase overnight last July, but bakers pay more for quality. They also like the fact the raisins are seedless, nutritious and perform very well in bakery. They help attract repeat sales." He said: "We have worked hard, building relationships with bakery students, the National Association of Master Bakers and Scottish Bakers. And we have given promotional incentives to those previously wedded to sultanas, getting people to test and try the raisins." He said he was "anticipating a good crop of 310,000 tonnes for the coming year". Efficiency has also improved with the crops now harvested mechanically. -Source: British Baker Magazine |  Blog News!Get the latest industry updates, Crop reports and share your thoughts with others ... ArchivesMay 2012 Categories |
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