| | Starting in late
August and continuing through September, the grapes are harvested. At this point
in the year they are at their optimum sweetness. Bunches of grapes are handpicked
by field workers and placed on paper trays, which are laid out on the ground between
the vine rows. To provide a good surface for the trays, the soil between the rows
is leveled. Depending on the weather, the
grapes are allowed to dry on the trays for two to four weeks. During this time,
the moisture content of the grape is reduced from 75% to under 15% and the color
of the fruit changes to a brownish purple. At night, the trays are rolled to minimize
the accumulation of sand and protect against raisin moth infestation. The paper
trays are embedded with a compound, which kills insects that can damage the grapes
as they dry. After the fruit is dried, the paper trays are rolled up around the
raisins to form a package. The rolls are gathered and stored in boxes or bins
before being transported by truck to a processing plant. | |
