What’s Really Behind America’s Record-Breaking Grape Harvest? Us Farming

Hello everyone. Today we continue our journey to farms across the United States to witness how thousands of tons of fruit are harvested. The first location we will see in this video is a large vineyard in San Joaquin County, California. San Joaquin County, California is one of the largest grape producing regions in the United States. From August to October each year, thousands of workers flock to the vineyards in California to harvest grapes. The average wage for these workers is about $17 per hour. According to statistics published in 2021, the total vineyard area in California was approximately 895,000 acres, with up to 73% of the area dedicated to wine grape production. Every year, California grape farms produce around 3.8 million tons of grapes, accounting for 92% of the nation's grape production. Grapes are typically grown from cuttings or pre-nurtured saplings. The young vines are planted in rows with a spacing of 6 to 10 feet, 2 to 3 meters. Since San Joaquin County experiences hot and dry summers, a drip irrigation system is used to deliver water efficiently without wastage. Every winter, workers prune the vines using specialized tools to remove old branches, shape the vines, and help them focus nutrients on the fruit. For table grapes, harvesting occurs when the fruit reaches its optimal sweetness and even coloration. For wine grapes, the sugar content, bricks level, is measured to determine the appropriate ripeness. Most grapes in San Joaquin are hand harvested to ensure fruit quality. Workers carefully cut each bunch of grapes, remove damaged ones, and place them into harvest baskets. Some farms also use mechanical harvesters, particularly for wine grapes, to collect them quickly. After harvesting, the grapes are placed in trays or crates to avoid bruising. Hundreds of tons of grapes are then transported to wineries for wine production. Upon arrival at the winery, grapes are sorted by size, quality, and ripeness. The grapes then undergo washing in clean water baths with sanitizing solutions to remove dirt, dust, and any other impurities. This process ensures the grapes meet food safety standards before entering the next stage of processing. After this, they move on to processing, packaging, and distribution. The second location we will visit in this video is a persimmon farm in southern Indiana. According to statistics published in 2021, the total area of persimmon cultivation in the United States was approximately 3,200 acres, yielding around 15,300 tons. 75 percent of the persimmons produced in the U.S. are consumed domestically, while the remaining portion is primarily exported to Canada and Mexico. Persimmon trees are typically planted in spring or early summer, as the mild climate is ideal for their growth. Especially during the flowering and fruiting stage, persimmons require regular watering. Pruning is also essential to keep the trees well-ventilated. Workers use sharp shears or cutting tools to trim branches and shape the trees. From September to December, the persimmon harvest takes place. Since persimmons have tough stems, workers must use specialized shears to cut each fruit instead of picking them by hand, as is common with other fruits. Fuyu persimmons can be harvested when they turn a bright orange, whereas Hachia persimmons need to be picked when fully soft or require post-harvest ripening. Once harvested, persimmons are carefully placed in crates to prevent bruising and transported to processing or distribution centers. After harvesting, persimmons are sent to processing facilities where they are cleaned and sorted. Depending on market demand, persimmons may be processed into dried persimmons, frozen persimmons, jams, and juices. Once processed, the products are packaged and distributed to the market. Now let's move on to the third location, a watermelon field in Arizona, where we'll see how thousands of watermelons are harvested. Currently, Arizona, Georgia, and Florida are the largest watermelon-producing states, accounting for approximately 27% of the total U.S. watermelon production. In 2021, about 105,000 acres of land in the U.S. were used for watermelon cultivation, yielding over 1.6 million tons. Watermelon is one of the most popular fruits in the United States, especially during summer. Watermelons are usually planted in spring, when soil temperatures reach around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, 21 degrees Celsius. Farmers either directly sow seeds into the ground, or transplant pre-grown seedlings. The spacing between plants is usually 3 to 6 feet, 1 to 2 meters, to allow ample room for growth. After sowing, farmers irrigate the fields to maintain soil moisture and facilitate germination, which typically takes 7 to 10 days. During this stage, monitoring soil moisture is crucial, since watermelons require substantial water to grow properly. As the watermelon plants develop, farmers provide consistent watering, fertilization, and pest control. Watermelons need around 25 to 30 inches of water throughout their growth cycle, so a drip irrigation system is commonly used to conserve water while ensuring adequate moisture for the plants. Watermelon harvesting typically occurs in mid-summer, June to August. Farmers determine ripeness by checking the fruit's size, color, and sound. A hollow sound, when tapped, usually indicates ripeness. Harvesting is done by hand, with farmers using knives or shears to cut the fruit from the vine without damaging it. After being harvested, watermelons are taken to sorting and processing areas before being cleaned, classified, and packed for fresh consumption. The fourth location in this video is a peach farm in Georgia. Wow, look at these beautiful ripe peaches! Would you like to come here and pick them yourself? Currently, California produces 73% of the U.S. peach supply. However, when it comes to flavor and sweetness, Georgia-grown peaches are widely recognized and highly valued. In 2021, the United States produced around 689,000 tons of peaches, with 505,000 tons coming from California. Peaches are typically