Farm Progress

Erratic spring weather adds to wine grape industry’s headaches

Odd weather is adding to the California wine industry's headaches, which include depressed prices and a glut of grapes.

June 2, 2011

1 Min Read

From the Sacramento Bee:

Bruce Rominger's Yolo County wine grapes are, in a word, immature.

So are his processing tomatoes, languishing in a Winters field.

"We're behind, and things are moving slowly," Rominger said of his crops. "I'm not happy about this rain recently."

Wine grape growers in the Sacramento region, along with those tending other perishable crops like cherries and strawberries, are struggling through a series of fluke frosts and hailstorms. The cool, wet spring – for the second year in a row – has delayed growth, increased the threat of some diseases and snarled the harvest, as well as crushing, packing and shipping schedules.

The zany weather is adding to the California wine industry's headaches, which include depressed prices and a glut of grapes.

For more, see: Erratic spring weather may add to Valley wine grape growers' costs

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