Dried-on-Vine Raisins (DOV)

 

Dried-on-Vine Raisins (DOV)

As the raisin industry has struggled with low prices for several years, labor costs have escalated. Traditional tray drying is an important component of total labor costs.

 

 
To reduce labor costs, our viticulture farm advisor envisioned a unique method of pruning that would allow raisins to be dried on the vine for machine harvest without any trellis retrofitting or additional cost. Research began in 1999 and is in progress. We have learned that fresh weights and raisin yields are similar to traditional tray drying, and the DOV (dried-on-vine) raisins can be successfully harvested with a standard wine grape harvester. The system eliminates discing to prepare a terrace for tray drying and also eliminates burning of paper trays after harvest. This could significantly improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, considering that more than 200,000 acres of raisin are produced. Raisin growers have been kept informed through symposia, field days, newsletters and articles in the popular press.
 

 
Sun-Maid indicates that their growers committed more than 5,000 acres to our traditional-trellis DOV system for the 2002 season. This acreage is anticipated to more than double in the upcoming 2003 season. Potential savings to the grower are $400 to $500 per acre. Grape growers are excited because other DOV systems require expensive trellis systems and retrofitting. This project could have a profound impact on raisin production in California, perhaps returning this industry towards profitability. Farm Advisors Stephen Vasquez and Bob Beede and KREC Superintendent Fred Swanson have collaborated on this project.
 

Supporting Unit: Tulare County
 
Bill Peacock
Farm Advisor
Phone: (559) 685-3309 ext. 217
wlpeacock@ucdavis.edu

Bill is taking a year sabbatical and will be out of the office until January 2004.