Citrus steady, wine grapes down
Industry reports say California citrus volumes are being shaped more by markets and weather than by a single supply surge, producing a steadier availability picture this year. By contrast, wine grape growers are facing a smaller harvest amid weak sales, tighter credit and shrinking vineyards. ( )
California citrus is moving through 2026 without a single flood of fruit, while California wine grapes are heading into a smaller crop and a weaker market. (agnetwest.com) Jesse Silva of Kings River Packing said citrus volume this year is being shaped by timing, weather and demand, not by one oversized harvest hitting all at once. He said that has kept availability steadier across the season. (agnetwest.com) State forecasts already pointed to mixed citrus volumes before spring selling began. California’s 2025-26 navel orange crop was estimated at 80 million 40-pound cartons, up from 75.8 million a year earlier, while growers told The Packer that rain and pests could still trim that number. (thepacker.com) Wine grapes are moving the other way. Ciatti Company said California’s 2025 grape crush was the smallest in 26 years, and buyers are still delaying deals because sales are weak, cash flow is tight and financing is harder to secure. (vinetur.com) The official preliminary crush data show how sharp that contraction has been. California crushed 2,759,202 tons of grapes in 2025, down 6.2% from 2,942,673 tons in 2024, while red wine grape tonnage fell 10.8% and white wine grape tonnage fell 6.0%. (californiaagnet.com) Prices fell with volume. The 2025 average price for all grape varieties was $978.60 per ton, down 3.8% from 2024, with red wine grapes averaging $1,280.63 per ton and white wine grapes $707.12 per ton. (californiaagnet.com) The split matters because both crops are major California specialties, but they are being driven by different pressures in 2026. Citrus sellers are managing around weather swings and normal market pacing, while wine growers are dealing with weaker consumption and a slower bulk market. (agnetwest.com, vinetur.com) Ciatti said the wine industry’s pullback is now visible in the field and in processing plants. Vineyards are being removed or idled, some crush and storage capacity is being taken out of service, and some companies are merging or closing. (vinetur.com) The grape data are still preliminary. The California Department of Food and Agriculture says the 2025 preliminary report was released on March 13, 2026, and the final 2025 Grape Crush Report is scheduled for April 30, 2026. (cdfa.ca.gov) For now, that leaves California agriculture with two very different stories in the same season: citrus looking orderly enough for steady shipments, and wine grapes still shrinking as the market searches for buyers. (agnetwest.com, vinetur.com)
