Posts Tagged: Raisins

Grape Breeder, David Ramming Retires

After 38 years, David Ramming has retired from the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS)-Parlier, California, where he bred grapes for California’s raisin and fresh market industries. Starting in 1975, he replaced John Weinberger who had just released ‘Fiesta’, the first grape developed to replace ‘Thompson Seedless’; the primary raisin grape for 100+ years. Since 1995, David has introduced four raisin grapes that helped make mechanized harvest a reality. ‘DOVine’, which ripens 2-3 weeks earlier than ‘Thompson Seedless’ was the first to be grown by San Joaquin Valley growers over large acreages. Trained using quad cordons, it is a vigorous variety that needs a large overhead trellis to grow. His most recent release in 2001, ‘Selma Pete’, was named after the late L. Peter Christensen, a world renowned UC Cooperative Extension Specialist who worked closely with David in developing cultural practices for new varieties. ‘Selma Pete’ has become the most widely planted raisin grape to date from David’s program and is grown on both open gable and overhead trellis systems. Additionally, two Muscat flavored raisin grapes were released prior to ‘Selma Pete’.

A technique pioneered by David known as embryo rescue has greatly shortened the breeding timeline for seedless grape advancement. Embryo rescue allows for seedless by seedless crosses by removing the small seeds and placing them on a nutrient-rich media, which allows them to grow into viable plants. All of David’s raisin and table grape varieties have been developed using this novel technique, which also has benefited California’s private grape breeding programs.

David’s most recent work has focused on incorporating resistance to powdery mildew and Pierce’s disease. He has been working with colleagues to determine what North American grapes have resistance and then using them to improve his breeding lines. Using molecular markers to find the progeny that have disease resistance in them, he has shortened the screening time. Young plants grown in incubators has saved time and money by not having to grow plants out in the field for evaluations or trials

In retirement, David plans on spending more time with his family and grandkids.

D Ramming

David Ramming evaluating Crimson Seedless.

Raisin Theft Advisory

The last two years, San Joaquin Valley raisin growers experienced a high number of rolled raisin thefts. The majority of the thefts occurred near Biola and the area west of Selma. In past years the Sheriff’s Department has received reports of both bin and rolled raisin thefts. In 2011 thefts consisted primarily of rolled raisins taken from the fields, usually during the evening and late night hours.

PREVENTION TIPS

• Place rolled raisin trays deeper in the vineyard away from main roads. Doing so limits visibility from the roadway.
• Remove raisins and/or bins from fields or unsecured locations as soon as possible.
• Secure tractors, trailers and most importantly forklifts, so the criminals are not able to use your own equipment to perpetrate the theft.

Report any theft and or sighting of suspicious vehicles/persons with descriptions as soon as possible to Fresno Sheriff's Department 559-488-3111 or your local Sheriff's department.

For in-progress crimes or any emergency, please dial 911.

California Leads in Organic Production

California farmers lead the nation in producing fruits and vegetables farmed organically. Despite the slow economy, California’s organic farmers plan on maintaining or increasing their current acreage according to the Organic Production Survey conducted in 2008. Karen Klonsky, a Cooperative Extension Specialist in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at UC Davis, has published a paper focusing on the challenges of producing, marketing and complying with new organic regulations in California. High demand continues for grape products with total sales exceeding $110 million; second only to lettuce with sales of $175 million.

 

The full report can be read here.

 

Burning Paper Raisin Trays

Compliance Assistance Bulletin:
Requirements for Burning Paper Raisin Trays

On May 20, 2010, the SJV Air Pollution Control District’s Governing Board postponed the prohibition of burning paper raisin trays in accordance with the requirements District Rule 4103

(Open Burning) and California Health and Safety Code Sections 41855.5 and 41855.6. Therefore, the burning of paper raisin trays will continue to be allowed with a valid District issued agricultural burn permit and District authorization until such time that economically and technically feasible alternatives to open burning exist.

As a condition of the postponement, specific requirements were put in place by the Board in order to minimize smoke impacts and will affect all District agricultural burn permit holders authorized to burn paper raisin trays. 

Please be advised that the failure to comply with the requirements outlined by the SJV Air Pollution Control District will result in the Violation and the imposition of a monetary penalty.

For an answer to your questions on open burning and/or agricultural burn permits, please call 1-800-665-2876 between 6:00 AM and 11:00 AM.