LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Despite the county's struggles with drought and devastating wildland fires, the year 2015 proved to be record-breaking for Lake County agriculture.
That was the news from Agricultural Commissioner Steve Hajik, who presented the 2015 Lake County Crop Report to the Board of Supervisors last week.
“It was a very good year in 2015 for agriculture in Lake County,” Hajik told the board.
Hajik reported that the gross value of Lake County Agriculture production for 2015 was $101,135,648. Compared to 2014, that's an increase of 9 percent, which can be attributed to an increase in the value of the winegrape and and pear industries, Hajik said.
He said 2015 was the first time the county's gross agricultural value exceeded $100 million.
Winegrapes led the way with $63.4 million, up 7 percent in value.
“The total acres really increased,” he said, noting that acreage rose by 673 acres to 9,455 acres total countywide, with 38,786 tons produced.
Hajik said the average price per ton increased by 7 percent, with Lake County also recording a record price per ton for all grapes.
The report showed that Cabernet Sauvignon topped all varietals, with 14,428 tons crushed and average returns of $2,157 per ton, for a total of $31.1 million in value. The No. 2 varietal was Sauvignon Blanc, with 11,640 tons crushed and $1,118 weighted average return per ton, for total value of just over $13 million.
Other varietals included Petite Syrah, with nearly 2,200 tons crushed valued at $3.9 million; Zinfandel, 1,758 tons crushed, $2.8 million; Chardonnay, 1,707 tons, $2 million; Merlot, 1,573 tons, $2 million; Syrah, 949 tons, $1.3 million; and all others, 4,540 tons, $6.9 million.
Pears were the No. 2 commodity in 2015, valued at $26,098,171, up 21 percent in value over the previous year, Hajik said. The pear price per ton on all Bartlett pears was the highest on record.
Hajik said pear production rose by 28 percent, or 9,002 tons, with the price per ton up 2 percent.
Overall, pear acreage dropped by 100 acres, to 2,034 acres, Hajik said.
Hajik said pears enjoyed record prices across the board – fresh, cannery and byproducts – not just for Lake County's famed Bartletts but other varieties as well, including Asian, bosc, comice and Seckel.
In particular, the crop report detailed a big jump in cannery tonnage and prices for Bartlett pears in 2015. Total tonnage was at 19,374 with a value of $8,011,336 in 2015, compared to 8,147 tons and $2,704,804 in value in 2014.
The fresh pears value was up to $14,580,777 in 2015, up from $14,169,909 in 2014, even though the fresh tonnage in 2015 was 14,866, down slightly from 2014's 15,797 tons.
Based on Hajik's report, walnuts – the county's No. 3 agricultural commodity – didn't fare so well in 2015, after having shown strong growth in previous years.
The value of walnuts in 2015 decreased by 25 percent, for a total value of $5,383,560. Hajik said walnut production also decreased.
The walnut price per ton decreased by 19 percent while acreage increased to 4,016, the report showed.
He said there was a big difference in the price per pound for conventional growers, $.65, and organic growers, $3.
Other notable points of the report included increases in nursery production, 36 percent; miscellaneous fruit, 14 percent; livestock and poultry products, 23 percent; and vegetables, 3 percent.
Decreases occurred in livestock productions, 4 percent; field crops, 33 percent; and timber, 1,250 percent.
Explaining the dramatic drop in timber, Hajik told the board, “There was low market prices due to the drought,” with beetle damage also playing a part.
In addition, there was a glut of lumber and, with only a few mills that can dictate the price, much of the timber wasn't worth harvesting in 2015, Hajik said.
Hajik said Lake County has 92 organic farms that include 2,160 total acres, for a value of $5.3 million. He said walnuts make up roughly 75 percent of the organic acreage.
Supervisor Jim Comstock said it was encouraging to see agricultural value on the rise.
He noted that over the last several years, in much of California, cows and calves have had to be shipped out. However, with the rangeland in great shape this year – he's seen very tall wild oats – that likely won't be the case this year. He credited the fire and the rain with strengthening the rangeland quality.
Board Chair Rob Brown noted the contribution of the sheriff's office to agriculture last year.
“It's rare that the sheriff's department is very much involved in ag production,” said Brown, but that was the case during the Valley fire, which hit during last year's grape harvest.
With a lot of grapes in the burn area, the sheriff's office worked to get crews in at night so the harvest could move forward and the grapes could be saved, he said.
Added Comstock, “The cooperation was outstanding.”
Brown said he was convinced that grapes and vineyards kept the Valley fire from going into the Clear Lake Riviera, which at one point had been evacuated during the early days of the fire.
Comstock agreed, noting there were multiple areas where vineyards helped stop the fire. He credited a Sutter Homes vineyards with slowing the fire down so he could protect his home.
Industry leaders weigh in on demand, changes in markets
As evidenced by the report, the Lake County wine industry is continuing to expand and strengthen, with the rising price for winegrapes a key indicator.
Debra Sommerfield, president of the Lake County Winegrape Commission, said the demand for Lake County grapes continues to be strong, especially among wine brands that are looking for high-quality fruit in the North Coast.
“More and more winemakers have realized that Lake County growers deliver consistent quality fruit that work well in their wine programs, and overall grape supply across the North Coast is limited, so they are willing to pay for it,” she said.
Sommerfield added that the numbers bear this out. “If you look at figures in the annual statewide crush report, Lake County grape prices have increased steadily and are third in the state behind Napa and Sonoma.”
Regarding the growth in acreage, Sommerfield explained, “We’ve seen a steady and healthy increase in vineyard planting over the past few years to address real demand from wineries. Gone are the days of planting on a whim in hopes there will be a buyer.”
She said it's also important to note that the increase in Lake County vineyard acreage is on a relatively small base of about 9,000 acres of grapes.
“If you look elsewhere in the North Coast, you find Sonoma has about 60,000 acres planted, Napa about 45,000 acres, and Mendocino about 17,000,” she said.
Sommerfield said that several of the newer vineyard plantings here have been ag transitions – or a conversion from one crop to another.
“Overall, Lake County has a relatively small agricultural footprint and a pretty balanced ag portfolio with vineyard acreage at just about 10 percent of the total acres under agricultural production, which includes other fruits, nuts, cattle, hay and a variety of farming operations,” she said. “It is likely to remain that way because it just so happens that what makes Lake County so scenically beautiful and viticulturally interesting – its gorgeous mountains and hills – is also what naturally limits its viticultural footprint.”
For pears, the county's No. 2 ag commodity, prices have remained good and crops healthy, according to Pat Scully, general manager of Scully Packing, the county's only remaining pear packing house.
Scully said the 2014 crop was large, with that same year yielding the best-ever price per ton for Lake County's prized fruit.
Hajik's report had put the 2015 prices higher than 2014's, but noted that the report represented gross agricultural receipts and didn't reflect production costs or net income to the producers. He also reported that he had lowered the 2014 agricultural production value based on a review of the pear data.
In 2015, the crop was big, with the second-highest prices – just slightly below those in 2014 – Scully said.
Explaining a shift in cannery tonnage, Scully said that was part of the local market shifting in response to the closure at the end of the 2014 packing season of Adobe Creek's packing operations.
“We took on as much of their fruit as we could,” he said, with the rest of the Adobe Creek fruit going to the canneries.
Shirley Campbell, controller at Adobe Creek Packing, confirmed that 2014 was the last year of packing operations for the company.
“We're not processing anymore,” she said. “We're just growing and selling.”
Owner Ken Barr has 500 acres of pears that are still going to market, some of it through Scully Packing, she said.
Campbell said the decision to stop processing operations “was a combination of everything” – including lack of labor, government regulation, imports and the loss of the summer fruit niche, lack of competition amongst grocery stores, lack of brand loyalty among consumers and unreasonable food safety requirements.
Plus they received a better offer from the canneries that were interested in getting more fruit. That's where most of Adobe Creek's pears go now, she said.
The labor issue, she added, “is the scariest thing we have going for us,” explaining that it's hard to find people to work in the packing houses.
Campbell said that Adobe Creek Packing used to be Kelseyville Packing, and has been around since 1924. At one time, she said Lake County had 10 pear packing sheds.
Even though there is far less acreage now than in years past, Scully said it's looking strong in the consolidated market for the remaining growers.
Campbell added that many pears have been pulled out over the years, but now the quantity seems to be fitting the need.
Looking ahead, Scully said the 2016 crop appears to be of average size.
“We're expecting to have real strong market conditions again,” he said, noting cannery demand also has been good.
As for when packing will start, Scully said they expect to start on July 5 with pears from the Sacramento Delta area. Lake and Mendocino County pears will come in at the end of July.
Scully said there is strong cannery demand this year, with Delta pears usually headed first to the canneries. That will mean there is less competition on the fresh market for the North Coast's pears.
Lake County's pears are still considered the best on the West Coast, said Scully, explaining they're higher in sugar, and have great texture, ripening qualities and flavor profile.
“Without a doubt, our pears are better than anyone else's,” Campbell added.
For those looking for summer work, Scully said they are continuing to bring on staff to keep the the two pears houses – in Finley and Scotts Valley – operating through the busy packing season.
“Labor seems like it's tight,” he said. “We've got two packing houses to fill.”
Those interested in jobs are asked to apply in person at Scully's Finley packing house, located at 3275 Stone Drive.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
How to resolve AdBlock issue? 
