BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — The grapes are growing. The vines are healthy. But across Kern County, thousands of acres of wine-grape vineyards are being torn out anyway.
County crop reports show wine-grape acreage has fallen from 25,250 acres in 2020 to 18,900 acres in 2024. Local growers say oversupply, weakening consumer demand and rising production costs are forcing the removals — regardless of how good the crop looks.
Farm manager Margaux Hein, who oversees approximately 7,800 acres of permanent crops across five counties in the Central Valley, said the industry is dealing with a difficult combination of oversupply and weakening demand…