Agriculture 10-23

Since August, Santa Barbara County’s vineyards have been a hub of harvest activity, and will be through November, when the final fruits are plucked. While fruit quality is solid, according to Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association Director Jim Fiolek, the grape yield is lower due to springtime frost and an early summer heat wave that damaged some crops. But no one’s going out of business due to the drop. “These people know what they’re getting into,” he said. “It’s farming.” (/harvest2008)