SFGate.com Article on the Power of the Grape ...

Some interesting facts and figures:

(01-17) 04:00 PST Washington -- The U.S. wine and grape products industry has blossomed into a $162 billion-a-year goliath that affects the economy in all 50 states, according to the first study of the business' national range released Wednesday.
...
The Wine Caucus, with 182 representatives and senators, is Congress' second-biggest specialty caucus. Only the Sportsmen's Caucus is bigger. To get its message across, the Wine Caucus hosted a reception Wednesday evening for all new members of Congress, at which all were given a copy of the study.

Full article here: For nation's vintners, days of wine are rosy: $162 billion industry now in all 50 states with 1.1 million jobs

Some of the numbers seem odd in this story, Gary.

They say there are 1.1 million full time jobs in the industry, with $3.0 billion payroll. That works out to about $2,700 a year, right?

Buck and a quarter an hour, and little opportunity for tips.

Some of the numbers seem odd in this story, Gary.

They say there are 1.1 million full time jobs in the industry, with $3.0 billion payroll. That works out to about $2,700 a year, right?

Buck and a quarter an hour, and little opportunity for tips.

I did say that the facts and figures were "interesting," didn't I? Actually I didn't give it a second thought and have since inquired of the author. It could have something to do with that term "equivalent." Isn't the fellow who runs MKF a member of this forum?

Some of the numbers seem odd in this story, Gary.

They say there are 1.1 million full time jobs in the industry, with $3.0 billion payroll. That works out to about $2,700 a year, right?

Buck and a quarter an hour, and little opportunity for tips.

I have received a response from the author of the article, to wit:

Subject: Re: For nation's vintners, days of wine are rosy
Date: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 11:59:47 -0800
From: "Epstein, Ed" <EEpstein> Add to Address Book Add Mobile Alert
To: gary-barlettano@yahoo.com

Thanks. Lots of the jobs are seasonal and low paid farm labor.
--------------------------
Sent using BlackBerry

Still seems odd ...

Not sure if I would consider a seasonal job "full-time". Haha.

Thanks, Gary, for checking. If the jobs are seasonal, the "full-time" tag doesn't fit. But, I'm not shooting the messenger, just trying to make sense of the piece.

I notice they left pot off the list of leading crops -- including it would make grapes seventh in size.

Regards, Bob

Thanks, Gary, for checking. If the jobs are seasonal, the "full-time" tag doesn't fit. But, I'm not shooting the messenger, just trying to make sense of the piece.

I notice they left pot off the list of leading crops -- including it would make grapes seventh in size.

Regards, Bob

I didn't feel a thing! But I am not quite satisfied with the response from Epstein, so I have written MKF Research.

By the way, pot is not a crop ... it's a renewable natural resource out here.