Global raisin production has reached record highs, led by the United States and Turkey as top producers. Turkey is the world's largest raisin exporter and the European Union is the largest importer, primarily sourcing raisins from Turkey. Raisin production methods vary by country but are increasingly becoming mechanized.

1. Overview of world raisin production
Matthew Fidelibus
Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis

2. Overview
• Global trends in raisin production and
consumption
• Producing and exporting countries
– Some typical vineyard and production methods
• Import markets
• Main raisin importing countries in the EU, and
their suppliers

3. World raisin production (MT)
950000
1000000
1050000
1100000
1150000
1200000
1250000
World consumption of raisins (MT)
2005/2006
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15

4. World raisin consumption (MT)
900000
950000
1000000
1050000
1100000
1150000
1200000
1250000
World consumption of raisins (MT)
2005/2006
2006/07
2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15

5. Metric tons of raisins produced &
exported by primary producers
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
Production (MT)
Exports (MT)
Data are from FAS/USDA, 2014, except India; Gade et al., 2014

6. Typical raisin production methods
in Turkey, USA, & Argentina

7. Turkey
• Grapes are harvested by hand into perforated
buckets
• Buckets are shipped to a drying yard where
they are dipped in drying emulsion
• Dipped grapes are spread by hand onto
tarpaulins to dry
• Raisins are light colored, similar to “Sultanas”

8. Photo courtesy of S.K. Kurtural, CSU Fresno
Grapes hand-harvested into perforated buckets, Turkey

9. Photo courtesy of S.K. Kurtural, CSU Fresno
Grapes dipped in drying emulsion, Turkey

10. Photo courtesy of S.K. Kurtural, CSU Fresno
Dipped grapes spread on tarpaulins to dry, Turkey

11. Photo courtesy of S.K. Kurtural, CSU Fresno
Raisin drying yard in Turkey

12. Turkish raisins

13. USA
• Traditional tray drying, mechanized tray drying
(“continuous tray”), and dry-on-vine (DOV)
production methods
• Grapes are dried in vineyards, either on trays,
or on the vine
• Drying emulsions are generally not used
• Raisins are dark-colored “naturals”

14. US raisin production methods
becoming increasingly mechanized
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
TotalRaisinProduction
Traditional
Cont Tray
DOV

25. Argentina
• Flame Seedless, Fiesta, Thompson Seedless, &
Arizul grapes on “pergola” style trellises
• Grapes are hand harvested into wooden boxes
for transport
• Drying on netting and cobblestone-covered
drying yards allow precipitation to drain
• Early, mid, & late season varieties maximize
use of drying yards
• No drying emulsion; dark-colored raisins

33. Metric tons of raisins imported
Data are from FAS/USDA, 2014
0
50000
100000
150000
200000
250000
300000
350000
400000

34. United Kingdom
Germany
Netherlands
Other
In 2008, >60% of EU Raisin Imports
went to UK, Germany, or the
Netherlands

35. Turkey supplies most of the EU
raisin market
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14
Other
Iran
United States
Turkey

36. Conclusions
• Global raisin production & consumption at record
highs
• USA & Turkey currently dominate global raisin
production
• Turkey is world’s leading exporter of raisins, & the EU
is by far the leading raisin import market.
• India and China are major producers, but not yet
major exporters
• There is increasing world-wide interest in
mechanizing raisin production

37. • California Raisin Marketing Board
• S. Kaan Kurtural, PhD, CSU Fresno
•
Acknowledgements