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It seems that last years bumper crop of California wine grapes, combined with large harvests this year, have producers paying less than the growing cost to buy grapes from the growers. In some areas all the grapes will be harvested, but depending upon the type of grapes, we will see thousands of tons left unharvested to rot on their vines. No one knows exactly how this is going to affect wine production and sales domestically over the next few years, but some growers are already pulling out vines and planting other crops. So far this seems to be just with lesser varieties of grapes that aren't used by many wine producers, but we will definately see thousands of acres of grapes changing over to almonds, pistachios, and other products. Like usual, it is always the smaller growers who can't afford to redo their vineyards who are going to suffer and disappear.
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11-02-2006 @3:39PM rainey said... The real question is too many wineries! If you drive through this state from the Mexican to the Mt. Shasta region you'll see more and more arable land being converted from orchard and produce and grazing land to grape production.
The real danger is not low prices for grapes but low food production and higher food prices for the nations' consumption.
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11-12-2006 @7:18PM HH said... It's all about supply and demand... and survival of the fittest.
Low food production? In America? You're joking, right? America produces too much food, in large part due to all the subsidies.
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11-02-2006 @7:56PM Dr. Electro said... The story remains the same. It doesn't matter whether you are a 1960's Texas cotton farmer, a 1980's Kansas wheat farmer or a 2006 California grape grower, the big guys are going to stomp all over each other to wipe out the little guys and try for a local monopoly.
The Muleshoe, Texas dairy farm I grew up on has disappeared from the map. The Muleshoe, Texas cotton farm my cousins grew up on has disappeared from the map. The Sout Dakota alfalfa and dairy farm that fed my mother's family from 1917 on is gone off the map. In their places are gigantic "crop circles" that overirrigate the land and kill groundwater with fertilizers and pesticides. Look at Google Earth in the area you grew up in, unless you're a city kid, and you will find changes that might just amaze and appall you. There are no more farm houses!!
It is as inevitable as rain and drought cycles. It is as unstoppable as a tsunami. As long as our economy is greed-based and driven by White House politicos the little guys are toast. Even the vintners of Southwest Texas are going corporate faster than a raisin can dry.
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11-03-2006 @1:19AM rainey said... Amen, Brother Electro!
And if anyone isn't clear about what he's saying it's get ready for multiples of the spinach/e-coli episode because things like that will sweep through the whole market that's concentrated in a few locations rather than be limited to one or two regional farms.
Our food supply is in jeopardy and NOW is the time to think about it and bring it up with our local legislators, zoning boards and health officials because when more of the country's farm land has gone Archer-Daniels-Midland it's too late.
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11-03-2006 @11:10AM johntron said... it'll be a good year for 2.99 buck Chuck.
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