ARAT COMPANY PJS - Dried Fruits Producer and Exporter - News Blog

High & Dry

Wed, 09 May 2012 14:24:01 +0300

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

California raisin industry in marketing war with Ocean Spray Craisins

Sat, 28 Jan 2012 13:19:10 +0300

California raisin growers are arming themselves for what they see is an attempt by the maker of Craisins, Ocean Spray Cranberries, to take away a chunk of their market share.
Growers of raisin grapes will pay an additional $5 per ton in the coming year to finance a response to the Ocean Spray effort.
Craisins are highly-processed cranberries to which sugar — as much as 40 percent of the final product — is added.
Antioxidant values, a key to raisin nutrition, are lost as cranberries are processed into Craisins.

Dennis PollockJan. 15, 2012 2:34pmWestern Farm Press

Early fall storm hammers Calif raisins in fields

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:34:22 +0300

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

US, CA: Dried Raisins or Grapes

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 12:04:19 +0300

As raisin harvest peaks, growers see high demand

A combination of factors that include a late crop, a shortage of harvest workers and demand for Thompson seedless grapes for both raisins and wine production has prompted a price war that benefits farmers as harvest in the San Joaquin Valley continues at full swing. Thompson seedless growers have found themselves in an enviable position of having to decide whether to sell their grapes as raisins—$1,700 per ton—or grapes for crush—$250 to $265 per ton. It takes about four and a half tons of fresh grapes to make a ton of raisins. "Right now, we are in a situation where we have stable pricing and there is the opportunity that the price could go up based on field activity by some of the processors that need more raisins," said raisin grower Steven Spate of Fresno. "We work for one payment a year. Our entire investment is laying on that one thin piece of paper out there."

Growers report that the crop is picking out heavier than expected, although the brix (sugar content) has been running behind normal, which has delayed harvest by a week to 10 days. Because of the delay in crop development, harvest time was compressed in mid-September as raisin growers raced to get their crop on the ground ahead of a federal crop insurance deadline. Sept. 20 was the cutoff date for crop insurance for farmers using paper trays to dry raisin grapes. Growers harvesting their grapes by machine had five more days to harvest their grapes and still meet the crop insurance deadline. "There is still a lot of picking going on, but most people did get their raisins on the ground ahead of the deadline," said Glen Goto, chief executive officer for the Raisin Bargaining Association in Fresno. "But driving around, I still see plenty of crews out there working, so those people are in jeopardy of not having insurance."

Visit us in ANUGA 2011

Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:41:22 +0300

We are happy to announce that Arat Co. will be exhibiting at the upcoming ANUGA in Koln, Germany during 8th to 12th October 2011.
Our booth is located at Hall 1.1 Aisle D No. 32

Sultanas Crop Report- Sep. 2011

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:37:31 +0300

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.

Local raisin growers clearing glut of product

Wed, 24 Aug 2011 11:40:40 +0300

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:

354,878 natural condition tons of Natural Seedless (NS) delivered (+19%)
129,197 packed tons of NS shipped to export (-15%)
180,344 packed tons of NS shipped to domestic and Canada (-3%)
110,206 tons of NS inventory (+32%)

Top Destinations for California Natural Seedless Raisins in 2010-2011 were:

- Source: Western Farm Press

US: California raisin crop 2011 drops

Sat, 13 Aug 2011 07:33:22 +0300

Production of grapes for raisins is dropping n California, according to the latest estimates from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. This year’s raisin grape forecast is now put at 2.05 million tons. Last year’s harvest was just under 2.08 million tons, both well below the high set in 2000 of more than 2.9 million tons.

Grape bunches per vine totaled 38.7 compared to 32.3 recorded in 2010. Acreage of bearing age is 210,000 the same as last year and well below the 280,000 acres devoted to raisin grapes in 2000. “The 2011 California raisin-type grape crop is shaping up to be an average sized crop,” NASS says Friday. “Similarly to last year, cooler and wetter weather early in the summer led to mildew problems. The raisin crop is also more than two weeks behind normal.”

Methodology

Grape bunches were counted, measured, and weighed in sample vineyards of raisin, table, and wine type varieties. Data were collected the first three weeks of July. A total of 325 raisin-type variety vineyards were sampled for the 2011 data.

Source: centralvalleybusinesstimes.com
Publication date: 8/12/2011

Raisins recalled by Brooklyn company over sulfite

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:05:06 +0300

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

Where Aseel Dates come from

Sun, 31 Jul 2011 07:41:54 +0300

According to the Pakistan Agricultural and research Council, 4.9 million tonnes of dates are grown per year in more than 40 countries around the world. Iran is the biggest in terms of production at 60 per cent, followed by Egypt at 12 per cent, Iraq at 11 per cent, Saudi Arabia at nine per cent with Pakistan at 7 per cent taking the fifth position in the world date production.
The total annual production of dates in Pakistan is about 0.54 million tons with contribution of at Sindh 0.28 million tonnes, Balochistan 0.175 million tonnes, NWFP 0.05 million tonnes and Punjab 0.039 million tonnes, respectively.
“It takes about a week before these dates turn into chuhara (dried hard dates) after which they are put in gunny bags and taken to the date market and sold,” explains Shaukat Ali.

The date variety predominantly found in Khairpur is called Aseel. 85 per cent of these dates are dried and turned into chuhara a majority of which is exported to India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

While a date properly ripened on the tree is of better quality than one picked prematurely, Markhand admits that “because there is always the imminent danger of sudden monsoon showers, the growers take them down prematurely, often three weeks before they are ripe and cure and process them into chuhara. Rain can completely destroy the fruit,” he says.
Date palm trees are spread over 98,000 hectares across Pakistan making it the fifth largest date producer in the world at 0.7million metric tonnes, with most orchards found in Balochistan. Yet, says Markhand, Sindh leads in production. He also explains that the tree is one of the most resilient plants and a rise in temperature or climate change will not be able to have any adverse affect on it, “not for another 200 years at least” he says confidently. But dates grow best where the temperatures are hot so that ripening period is short. The date palm tree, says Markhand, becomes fully fertile in nine years and bears fruit for over 80 years.
Source: www.dawn.com / Zofeen T. Ebrahim
Read full article: http://www.dawn.com/2011/07/26/the-golden-harvest-of-khairpur.html