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September 28, 2012

Raisin In The Sun – A Trip to California Raisin Country

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California Raisins

California Raisin Harvest Tour

How much do you know about raisins?  Think you know a lot, right?  I mean, what is there to know about raisins, after all?  They’re just shriveled, dried grapes.  Or so I used to think, but you don’t know what you don’t know as they say.  I recently headed down to Fresno, CA to see the raisin harvest in progress and I learned a great deal.  That little shriveled grape?  He’s a pretty interesting guy with a remarkable history.  He also happens to score very well in the nutrition department.  Okay, so he’s not exactly low carb, but he is healthy and gluten free.  Our house is almost never without raisins as it is, but now I am even more keen on keeping them around, for both the kids and the adults.

You will be hearing a fair bit from me about this tiny powerhouse over the coming months.  As part of the California Raisins campaign, I get to work with some other wonderful bloggers, as well as with Relish Magazine (keep your eyes out for a recipe contest!) and the wonderful people at the California Raisins Marketing Board.  And I plan on bringing you some innovative raisin dishes, including some low carb recipes.  You know me, my little mind has been whirring from the get go.

Snap Happy Foodblogger Meredith Steele

Hand-picked raisins drying in the sun

The Harvest Tour itself was so much fun.  We had a chance to taste raisins right off the vine, as well as having a blind taste test of many varieties at the Circle K Ranch.  Ron Kazarian, the owner of Circle K, played tour guide and patient teacher to our blogger group.  Did you know that raisins are dried entirely in the California sun?  It’s one of those things I never even thought about, really, but it was a surprise to hear that they aren’t at all mechanically dehydrated.  There are two methods of sun-drying; one is to pick clusters of grapes and lay them on paper on the ground by the vines, facing the sun.  The other, a newer and perhaps more productive method, is to let them dry completely on the vine (DOV or dried on vine).

Ron of Circle K Ranch

Raisin Tasting – 12 different varieties

We also got a chance to visit the National Raisin Company packing plant, one the main packing facilities in Fresno.   We saw the raisins from the whole cleaning and sorting process through to packing and shipping.  I got a kick out of seeing boxes with the logos of my local grocery stores and wholesalers, waiting to be shipped.  We also had a lovely lunch and nutritional talk at the California Raisins Marketing Board (CRMB) headquarters.  More on that later, because I’d like to devote more time to the nutrition of raisins in another post.

Dried On Vine Raisins

We also got to see almonds still on the tree. I heart almonds!

Finally, we ended the day at the beautiful home of Dennis and Janelle Wilt.  Dennis’s family has been in the raisin farming business for over 100 years, and he also happens to be the Chair of the CRMB.  Our hosts were truly delightful and a delicious gourmet meal was prepared for us by Chef Mike Siegel.  And yes, raisins were part of the menu.  The hospitality we received was incomparable, and it certainly didn’t hurt that we dined al fresco, surrounded by rows upon rows of vines.

All dressed up among the almond trees

Dinner in the heart of California Raisin Country

So you can see why I have a new-found appreciation for raisins.  I always rather thought of them as the workhorse of dried fruits, pleasant enough but not necessarily that interesting.  Now, however, I can see their wonderful range of variation, how they can be used in so many sweet and savoury recipes, and that they are quite the nutritional powerhouse.  I’m sold.  Viva La Raisin!

Dried On Vine Raisins

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Filed Under: Ad-Free Posts, Gluten Free Tagged With: food bloggers, fresno, raisins

Nutritional Disclaimer

Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

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Comments

  1. Brian @ A Thought For Food says

    September 28, 2012 at 7:09 am

    Looks like an awesome trip and it’s so cool to see raisins still on the vine!

    Reply
  2. [email protected] says

    September 28, 2012 at 7:51 am

    Raisins are amazing little energy powerhouses, aren’t they? California at harvest time is a miracle; glad you got to see it. Waiting for a few recipes, now…

    Reply
  3. Jeanette says

    September 28, 2012 at 8:21 am

    What a fun trip Carolyn – I love that photo of you along the almond trees. How interesting, never knew how raisins were dried – like the ones dried right on the tree.

    Reply
  4. claire @ the realistic nutritionist says

    September 28, 2012 at 9:32 am

    you are so pretty!! and how fun, I Love raisins!

    Reply
  5. Alison @ Ingredients, Inc. says

    September 28, 2012 at 12:46 pm

    so much fun! Looks like a blast

    Reply
  6. Kiersten @ Oh My Veggies says

    September 28, 2012 at 3:37 pm

    What a great trip! And I have to say, I’m really surprised that they actually dry raisins in the sun–I figured it was done with some kind of dehydrating machine too!

    Reply
  7. [email protected] says

    September 28, 2012 at 4:02 pm

    Awesome, I love raisins and I can’t wait for the posts to come with more information on their powerful nutrition…oh, yes and the recipes!!! Beautiful picture of you as well!

    Reply
  8. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

    September 28, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    Amazing trip — I’ve never seen raisins on the vine before 🙂

    Reply
  9. Parsley Sage says

    September 29, 2012 at 5:09 am

    Excite! What an incredible opportunity! I have given zero thought to the life of a raisin before. It has quite an interesting story 🙂 I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve got in store for these little yummies

    Reply
  10. Lauren at Keep It Sweet says

    September 29, 2012 at 7:59 am

    What a great trip and great way to learn more about the company. Love that cute photo of you!

    Reply
  11. Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen says

    September 29, 2012 at 9:14 am

    Great news Carolyn! I’m glad that you get to be a part! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Lisa | With Style and Grace says

    September 29, 2012 at 4:49 pm

    you’re so adorable! looks like a great trip – love the simple sweetness of raisins!

    Reply
  13. Jennifer Eloff says

    September 29, 2012 at 8:13 pm

    Love raisins and I use California raisins as well – even here in the tropics I can buy them and I do! I don’t know where you find the energy to do all you do – must be all that running! You look gorgeous, Carolyn, and I like your pretty, summery dress. You cut your hair! It looks good on you though.

    Reply
  14. Kim Bee says

    October 2, 2012 at 4:28 pm

    This is so cool. I can just imagine the taste of the ones drying in the sun. I’m a sultana girl, something about them just speaks to me.

    And on a side note, seriously want to look like you when I grow up. You look gorgeous in your sundress.

    Reply
  15. janelle says

    October 16, 2012 at 4:56 pm

    LOVE it! Such good memories—and I am thrilled that I get to see you again soon!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Low Carb Carrot Cake Pancakes | All Day I Dream About Food says:
    October 22, 2012 at 6:40 am

    […] long runs is a little pack of raisins.  As I was on my way down to California last month for the Raisin Harvest Tour, I happened to pick up a copy of Runner’s World magazine.  In it was a little blurb about […]

    Reply
  2. Relish Blogs – Carrot Cake Pancakes says:
    November 15, 2012 at 3:25 pm

    […] long runs is a little pack of raisins.  As I was on my way down to California last month for the Raisin Harvest Tour, I happened to pick up a copy of Runner’s World magazine.  In it was a little blurb about how […]

    Reply

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