The future of California raisins is drying on the vine

Scientists at the UC Kearney Research and Extension Center have developed a new method to produce dried-on-vine (DOV) raisins. Prior DOV systems required costly trellising and harvesting equipment, putting DOV out of reach for most growers. Our new, within-row-alternate-bearing DOV (WRAB DOV) method can be used with the existing trellis and no retrofitting. DOV raisins are machine harvested, reducing human contact and production costs, and improving profitability. Drying raisins on the vine eliminates the need for intensive cultivation to prepare terraces down row middles. This method also removes the problem of using and disposing of paper trays, solving an important air-quality issue for raisin growers.