According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS),California raisin type grapes using the overhead trellis management system totaled 19,543 acres (bearing and non-bearing) during 2011. This amounted to 9.8 percent of the total raisin type grape acreage. Varieties ‘Fiesta’ and ‘DOVine’ had the highest percentage of acreage using the overhead trellis system, at 52.2 percent and 41.2 percent, respectively. However, ‘DOVine’ at 609 acres is being grafted over to by growers other varieties including ‘Fiesta’. ‘Selma Pete’ has increased in acreage to 3,872 with approximately 33.1 percent of the plantings trained on an overhead trellis system. The remaining acreage is primarily trained to the open gable trellis system, which is less costly and allows growers to use most of their existing equipment. Approximately 31.5 percent of the total raisin type acreage planted since 2004 has been managed using the overhead trellis system according to the USDA NASS.

The full USDA NASS 2011 California Raisin Grape Overhead Trellis Report can be found here.