Latest News From California Grapes

California grapes on the air through the end of the year
California grapes on the air through the end of the year

California grapes are live and on the air. Commercials and messages for California grapes will appear now through the end of the year on television, on podcasts and radio stations, and online.

California grapes go global with promotions
California grapes go global with promotions

Big supplies of California grapes will be heading to export markets this fall, and promotions will be there to support sales.

Sustainability, conservation play role in grape vineyards
Sustainability, conservation play role in grape vineyards

Many California table grape growers have adopted sustainable growing and business strategies to guide their vineyards into a productive, profitable and ecologically sound future.

California black grapes find a niche
California black grapes find a niche

Black table grapes rank a distant third in sales after red and green varieties, but there’s a decided group of consumers who have taken a liking to the darker-hued fruit.

California grape varieties proliferate
California grape varieties proliferate

There certainly is no dearth of table grape varieties out of California.

New grape varieties enhance retail sales
New grape varieties enhance retail sales

Table grapes are available year-round, thanks to offshore export programs, but they seem to be associated more with the warm, summer months and outdoor eating occasions.

Coachella Valley grapes off to late start
Coachella Valley grapes off to late start

Good-quality table grapes are coming out of California’s Coachella Valley after a “really late” start this season.

Good quality seen as California grapes kick off
Good quality seen as California grapes kick off

California table grapes already are shipping out of the Coachella Valley, and grower-shippers expect good-quality fruit to kick off in the San Joaquin Valley to the north sometime in July. 

California Table Grape Commission compiles health research
California Table Grape Commission compiles health research

As the 2020 California table grape season kicks off, the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission has compiled a health info sheet that touts the health benefits of California table grapes.

Pretty Lady Vineyards offers new package options
Pretty Lady Vineyards offers new package options

New package options are on tap for McFarland, Calif.-based Pretty Lady Vineyards.

Anthony Vineyards features big organic grape fall volume
Anthony Vineyards features big organic grape fall volume

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Anthony Vineyards will feature big organic grape volume this fall.

Late start for California grapes
Late start for California grapes

This could be a year like no other for California’s table grape industry.

California grape growers expect plentiful fall supply
California grape growers expect plentiful fall supply

California grapes will be plentiful this fall, grower-shippers and marketers forecast.

California Grapes 2018 business updates
California Grapes 2018 business updates

Catch up on recent developments and crop updates from grower-shippers of California grapes.

Anthony Vineyards ups production of new grape varieties
Anthony Vineyards ups production of new grape varieties

Bakersfield, Calif.-based Anthony Vineyards is expanding production of some of its newer specialty grape varieties, grown in the San Joaquin Valley.

King Fresh Produce adds employees
King Fresh Produce adds employees

Dinuba, Calif.-based grower-shipper King Fresh Produce LLC has added to its staff as it increases grape volumes.

Value-added offers opportunities, California grape suppliers say
Value-added offers opportunities, California grape suppliers say

Some California grape suppliers indicate the portable nature of grapes implies added value.

Suppliers and marketers in the Chilean grape import deal say high-graphic stand-up bags continue to be popular, though some retailers prefer prefer the pouch without the graphics.
Bags still dominate California grape packaging

Bags continue to dominate packaging in California’s table grape business, although suppliers say clamshells still play an important role.

Grape suppliers see new sales, efficiencies through novelty varieties
Grape suppliers see new sales, efficiencies through novelty varieties

Established grape varieties still dominate sales worldwide, but newcomers are pushing the business in new directions, as well as elbowing some older varieties aside.

California grape marketers plan numerous platforms to reach shoppers
California grape marketers plan numerous platforms to reach shoppers

Color, price and visibility will sell plenty of table grapes at retail, California growers and shippers say.

Late start for California grapes, but growers expect quality
Late start for California grapes, but growers expect quality

Many California table grape grower-shippers missed out on Fourth of July promotions, but everyone across the industry seems to think they’ll have ample reason to celebrate as the summer unfolds.

California۪s table grape crop, like these magenta seedless grapes from Fruit Royale Inc. in Delano, should reach 111.4 million 19-pound boxes this season. Excessive heat slowed coloring for some varieties, but still, The fruit۪s been fantastic,  says Louie Galvan, managing partner at Fruit Royale.
Grapes cope with heat wave

Table grape growers in California’s San Joaquin Valley were hoping for cooler weather in early August after enduring an extensive heat wave with temperatures topping 100 degrees.

California Grapes business updates
California Grapes business updates

Business updates from companies featured in The Packer's California Grapes section

Commission helps retailers promote grapes
Commission helps retailers promote grapes

The Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission will lend a hand to retailers who want to promote California grapes this summer and fall.

California exports 36% of its grapes
California exports 36% of its grapes

Exports continue to play a significant role in the California table grape deal.

As a licensee of Sun World International LLC, Bakersfield, Delano-based Jakov P. Dulcich & Sons offers Autumn Crisp, Adora Seedless and Midnight Beauty (pictured above), says Nick Dulcich, owner and director of sales.
Growers seek the perfect grape

The search never ends for California growers as they seek bigger, crunchier and more flavorful table grapes.

Retailers pick California grapes
Retailers pick California grapes

When it comes to table grapes, many retailers have a preference for fruit from California.

Exports play important role for California grape shippers
Exports play important role for California grape shippers

Many California growers have found a profitable niche in table grape exports.

Pete Hronis (left), senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Kosta Hronis, president of Hronis Inc., check out scarlet royal table grapes that should be ready to pick by mid-August. The company, and a number of other growers in California’s Central Valley, expects to harvest the first varieties July 3.
Hronis expands cold storage for grape season

DELANO, Calif. — Hronis Inc. has added three cold storage rooms this season — totaling 30,000 square feet — that will accommodate 300,000 boxes of table grapes, said Pete Hronis, senior vice president of sales and

California growers add organic grape acreage
California growers add organic grape acreage

The organic category continues to expand, with many California table grape growers experiencing significant increases in volume.

Pete Hronis (left), senior vice president of sales and marketing, and Kosta Hronis, president of Hronis Inc., Delano, Calif., check out some scarlet royal table grapes that should be ready to pick by mid-August. “The season is progressing nicely,” Pete Hronis said June 8. The company, and a number of other growers in California’s Central Valley, expects to kick off its season July 3.
Later start seen for California grapes

Table grapes, like a lot of other California crops this season, will be off to a slightly later start than last year, but growers anticipate good quality due in part to ample rainfall during the winter and spring.

Michael Strambi, director of farming and cultural practices for Sun World International LLC, Bakersfield, Calif., visits a vineyard of the company’s proprietary Autumn Crisp grapes in mid-April. Sun World will kick off its season in mid-May with Superior Seedless grapes.
California table grapes bloom late but quality remains great

This year’s California table grape deal may get a slightly later start than last year’s, but growers say the quality of the fruit should be worth the wait.

Autumn kings are among the fall varieties that are expected to contribute to the high volumes of California grapes shipping after Sept. 1.
High sugar, fast movement forecast for California grapes

California grapes are in the ballpark of an all-time high for volume, and more than 60% of the crop will ship after Sept. 1.