California: Value of 2013 grape harvest comes close to record

(NVR) - Belying predictions, Napa County’s 2013 grape crop was only off 2012’s record mark by about 8,000 tons, earning local growers $638 million last year, the second highest crop value since state statistics have been kept by the California Department of Food and Agriculture.

Napa County’s most recent grape crop weighed in at 172,978 tons last fall, down by just 4 percent over the record 2012 harvest of 181,183 tons. Growers had predicted a much smaller harvest would follow the previous season’s bumper crop.

As a result, the total value of last fall’s crush fell by only $10 million, a relatively insignificant 1.6 percent drop when compared to the 2012 season.

California officials midday Monday released the preliminary 2013 grape crop report, showing that new tonnage records were set statewide while, on average, grape prices declined.

“Napa is out of sync with everybody,” declared industry analyst George Schofield. “The entire state is up in volume and down in price and Napa is just the opposite.”

The gain in average prices was insufficient to offset the decline in local production, Schofield pointed out. “Nevertheless, considering the record-breaking level of 2012, the economic performance and contribution of the grape industry to the country in 2013 should be considered outstanding. Nobody should be complaining.”