Pursuits
California Grape Area Being Ripped Up for Almonds, Ciatti Says
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Californian grape vines are being ripped up as drought forces farmers to switch to higher yielding crops such as almonds and other nut and tree fruits, wine broker Ciatti Co. said.
About 15,000 to 20,000 acres (6,070-8,094 hectares) of vines are expected to be pulled out of the ground, the San Rafael, California-based company wrote in an e-mailed report. The state has an estimated wine grape acreage of 546,000 acres, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.