2002 California Grape Tonnage Estimates

According the Allied Grape Grower's article, 2002 crop forecast is released by the State,
Early in July, the State of California Ag Statistics Service released the first 2002 grape crop forecast. In August the State will release its objective measurement survey which includes actually analyzing and recording crop size (i.e. weight).

..Looks to be 7.5% more wine grapes this year than last (based on yields alone). Last year the wine grape crop ended up over three million tons with 3.369 million tons total being crushed, including concentrate grapes. The state's estimate this year is that there will be 3.3 million tons of wine grapes produced.

...The wine grape crop is estimated at a merely 10% increase even with a larger acreage base (from 480,000 in 2001 to 491,000 in 2002). Even though the estimate is not as high as expected by many in the industry, there is still an overall feeling of anxiety due to the last couple of year's disappointing spot market performances in almost all areas. Furthermore, winery capacity issues are becoming a major concern once again as they were in 1997 as well as 2000. With each passing year of more producing acreage, wineries find it more and more challenging to house all of the supply.So on top of a grape surplus, growers are faced with larger crop loads.

2002 California Grape Estimates in Tons
1.	Wine Grapes	3,369,000
2.	Raisins	2,550,000
3.	Table Grapes	700,000
TOTAL		6,620,000
Source: California State Ag Statistics