Raisin By-Products

                   

          Not all parts of the raisins that are dried are edible. The stems and raisins that do not meet grade levels are used for other purposes. Off-grade raisins are used to produce raisin alcohol and grape concentrate. The stems are used for cattle feed. Very small amounts of raisins are used as cattle feed.
          One company that takes advantage of raisin by-products is The Economy Stock Feed Company. Keith Kramer is the owner and operator of this company. Keith's grandfather started the raisin by-products business in the 1930's after he had fed raisin stems to his cattle in an experiment to see if they would like it. (Prior to that time, raisin stems and chaff had been burned and thought of as having no value.) Keith's grandfather found his cattle liked the stems and chaff, and what started as an experiment soon blossomed into a business. Studies in recent years have shown the food value contained in raisin stems and chaff is equal to or greater than that in certain grades of alfalfa. And, the cost to dairymen as dry feed is less than what they would ordinarily pay for alfalfa.
          Listen below to the 20 second sound excerpt, found on the course CD, and hear Keith speak of the uses for raisin stems, chaff, and off-grade raisins - each a raisin by-product.

Click to listen to Keith Kramer.