Latest News From Grapes

Sun World International hails successes in intellectual property cases
Sun World International hails successes in intellectual property cases

Sun World International LLC says Italian courts ruled in favor of the company in four recent infringement lawsuits against unlicensed growers who unlawfully produced and sold Sun World grape varieties.

Chilean Grape Committee projects 35 million boxes for the U.S.
Chilean Grape Committee projects 35 million boxes for the U.S.

With robust supplies of Chilean grapes headed for the U.S., “it’s looking like mid-March through April will be a great time for retailers to promote Chilean grapes,” says Ignacio Caballero of Frutas de Chile.

Sun World hosts first-ever Autumncrisp Symposium
Sun World hosts first-ever Autumncrisp Symposium

Licensed table grape growers from 14 countries took part in the symposium, which focused on global planting plans, local agronomy support, quality assurance, retail relations and an overview of global marketing plans.

 Exploring the vineyard of the future project's broader impacts
Exploring the vineyard of the future project's broader impacts

Sean Sundberg, business integration manager for John Deere, shares how a collaboration with Sonoma County Winegrowers on the “vineyard of the future” project will benefit other specialty crop growers.

Grupo Alta hosts farmworker social event ahead of Jalisco grape season
Grupo Alta hosts farmworker social event ahead of Jalisco grape season

La Escuela de Asociados, which is Spanish for the School of Associates, is a key component of Grupo Alta's recruitment process when new workers from the southern states of Mexico migrate north for employment.

California Table Grape Commission advocates for competitiveness
California Table Grape Commission advocates for competitiveness

In remarks to the USDA and the California Department of Food and Agriculture, incoming commission president Ian LeMay encouraged promotions to extend access to markets.

Fresh Farms increasing investment in technology
Fresh Farms increasing investment in technology

Fresh Farms says it is also developing creative marketing solutions to help its retail customers maximize their return on investment.

Sun World showcases Autumncrisp grapes at Winter Fancy Food Fest
Sun World showcases Autumncrisp grapes at Winter Fancy Food Fest

The Bakersfield, Calif.-based licensing company highlighted the green seedless grape variety during the specialty foods industry event.

Oppy, Sun Grape USA form joint venture
Oppy, Sun Grape USA form joint venture

With the new partnership, Oppy will expand its year-round reach in Peru, Brazil, Chile, South America and Mexico with Sun Grape’s nearly 1,500 acres in production in California.

Drought relief noted for some regions in Chile
Drought relief noted for some regions in Chile

Drought is a significant long-term challenge for Chilean fruit producers, but there has been some relief in the past year, a new USDA report on the country’s economic outlook says.

Sipcam Agro expands availability of tool for disease control in grapes
Sipcam Agro expands availability of tool for disease control in grapes

The company’s new biofungicide, Mevalone, is now available to treat bunch rot and powdery mildew in California.

Bloom Fresh to license its protected plant varieties in China
Bloom Fresh to license its protected plant varieties in China

Bloom Fresh International Ltd., responsible for table grape varieties such as Cotton Candy and Sweet Globe, will license its protected plant varieties to Chinese growers.

Grants for spotted lanternfly control available in New Jersey
Grants for spotted lanternfly control available in New Jersey

Counties and municipalities can apply for grant funds to help defray prevention and population reduction activities on private and public lands.

Napa vineyard trials smart irrigation technology
Napa vineyard trials smart irrigation technology

Treasury Wine Estates deployed smart irrigation valves to help manage and automate water usage on 90 acres of its vineyards.

Peru grape exports will increase slightly, USDA reports
Peru grape exports will increase slightly, USDA reports

Peruvian grape exports in the 2023-24 marketing year will increase by 2%, according to a new USDA report.

Chilean fruit industry evaluating impact of recent rains
Chilean fruit industry evaluating impact of recent rains

“Climate change and the El Niño phenomenon are putting agriculture in Chile and the world to the test,” said Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile.

North American importers of Chilean grapes seek approval of systems approach
North American importers of Chilean grapes seek approval of systems approach

With the 2023-24 Chilean table grape season starting in November, Chilean grape importers from across the U.S. are urgently requesting the U.S. authorities to accelerate the authorization of a systems approach.

Chilean grape exporters look for big increase in production and exports
Chilean grape exporters look for big increase in production and exports

Chilean table grape production will jump by nearly 15% in the 2023-24 marketing year, a new report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service says.

How table grape growers can prepare for El Niño 2023 
How table grape growers can prepare for El Niño 2023 

Bloom Fresh, a premium fruit-breeding company specializing in table grapes, cherries and raisins, says it's taking proactive measures to safeguard table grape production as El Niño threatens vineyards across the globe.

Sun World launches Autumncrisp campaign with first in-person experiential event 
Sun World launches Autumncrisp campaign with first in-person experiential event 

Sun World International recently took to New York City to officially debut its Autumncrisp brand grapes’ global consumer marketing campaign.

Chilean grape exporters expect 5% growth this season
Chilean grape exporters expect 5% growth this season

Led by newer varieties, Chilean table grape production for the 2023-24 season will grow 5%, according to an industry estimate.

World grape regions face challenges
World grape regions face challenges

The global grape market is experiencing shifts due to a series of unexpected weather events in key growing regions.

Sun World to sample Autumncrisp grapes at NYC wine and food event
Sun World to sample Autumncrisp grapes at NYC wine and food event

Sun World International is set to host an experiential sampling station for its Autumncrisp brand grapes at The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival presented by Capital One, Oct. 13-15.

Bloom Fresh unveils new corporate identity at Fruit Attraction 2023
Bloom Fresh unveils new corporate identity at Fruit Attraction 2023

Bloom Fresh unveiled its new corporate identity and reaffirmed its commitment to breeding table grapes and cherry varieties in 24 countries at Fruit Attraction Madrid 2023.

U.S. imports of Peruvian grapes assume greater importance in November and December
U.S. imports of Peruvian grapes assume greater importance in November and December

Peruvian grapes have taken an increasingly important role in the late-year U.S. grape supply.

California dominates the U.S. fall grape supply
California dominates the U.S. fall grape supply

August through November represent a prime time for California grapes.

Sunview Marketing International revs up for the balance of California grape season
Sunview Marketing International revs up for the balance of California grape season

Sunview Marketing International is headed into a time of the year when the marketer will be going strong on several of its proprietary brands, says Mitch Wetzel, vice president of sales.

Rains create mixed results for Bari Produce grapes
Rains create mixed results for Bari Produce grapes

Rains from Hurricane Hilary caused variable damage to the fresh grape vineyards of Bari Produce LLC, says Justin Bedwell, president of the Fresno, Calif.-based marketer.

California Table Grape Commission reflects on a century of plant breeding
California Table Grape Commission reflects on a century of plant breeding

“It is not an overstatement to say that this program changed the table grape industry and the world of table grape breeding,” said Ross Jones, California Table Grape Commission senior vice president.

Candy Snaps season extended with new variety
Candy Snaps season extended with new variety

The newly patented table grape varietal, known as IFG Forty-one, is expected to extend Candy Snaps' availability in retail stores for several more weeks during the early-to-midsummer season.

North Carolina muscadine grape program offered by Happy Dirt
North Carolina muscadine grape program offered by Happy Dirt

With the organic muscadine grape program, Happy Dirt and one of the company’s North Carolina farmer-partners are working to build awareness around the grape’s unique flavors, adaptability and health benefits.

25M boxes lost to Hurricane Hilary, California table grape growers report
25M boxes lost to Hurricane Hilary, California table grape growers report

“The revised estimate for the California crop is 71.9 million 19-pound boxes,” said California Table Grape Commission President Kathleen Nave. “The last time the crop was under 75 million boxes was 1994.”

Global marketing campaign kicks off for Autumncrisp table grapes
Global marketing campaign kicks off for Autumncrisp table grapes

California-based Sun World International is seeking to transform the table grape category through its global marketing campaign for the Autumncrisp green seedless table grape brand.

Fruit World kicks off organic grape program
Fruit World kicks off organic grape program

The California grower is harvesting heritage organic grapes as well as Thomcord and Kyoho varieties from July until October.

IFG wins landmark IP case in China
IFG wins landmark IP case in China

Bakersfield, Calif.-based International Fruit Genetics, LLC (IFG), has announced that a plant variety right infringement case in Yunnan, China has concluded in IFG’s favor.

Growers harvest first crop of Ruby Rush grapes this month
Growers harvest first crop of Ruby Rush grapes this month

Sun World is launching a new red grape brand named Ruby Rush and reports growers from the U.S., Italy, Spain and Israel are harvesting the new variety this July.

IFG acquisition close, Amfresh Group says
IFG acquisition close, Amfresh Group says

Bakersfield, Calif.-based International Fruit Genetics LLC will soon be acquired by an ag innovation group based in Spain, according to a news release.

Oppy adds acreage to expand its grape program domestically
Oppy adds acreage to expand its grape program domestically

Together, five regions are expected to produce 20% more than Oppy harvested in 2022 as more acreage comes online, the company said.

Mountain View expands premium table grape program with 3 varieties
Mountain View expands premium table grape program with 3 varieties

Along with Mountain View Fruit Sales expanding its table grape portfolio, owner Mike Thurlow is projecting 2023 to be a vintage grape season.

IFG set to open research lab this summer 
IFG set to open research lab this summer 

The new laboratory is part of the Bakersfield, Calif.-based table grape breeder’s $19 million IFG Discovery Center Campus that is slated to open in spring 2024.

Sonora grape deal is rebounding after slow start, distributor says
Sonora grape deal is rebounding after slow start, distributor says

“Nature really dealt us a tough hand and we are navigating through it the best way possible. Despite the rocky start, prices will adjust to comfortable levels over the next days or so,” says Carlos Bon.

Fresh Trends 2023: Yes, grapes are popular — how that breaks down by consumer segments
Fresh Trends 2023: Yes, grapes are popular — how that breaks down by consumer segments

The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey indicated 52% of consumers said they purchased fresh grapes in the past year, with consumers in the Midwest reporting the highest level of fresh grape consumption.

Competition from Peru hurts Chilean grape exports to the U.S.
Competition from Peru hurts Chilean grape exports to the U.S.

Facing pressure from Peru in the U.S. market, Chilean grape exports to the U.S. market are projected to fall nearly 9% in the 2022-23 season.

Fresh Farms launches ‘Taste to Believe’ campaign ahead of Mexican grape season
Fresh Farms launches ‘Taste to Believe’ campaign ahead of Mexican grape season

The Sonora, Mexico-based grower, packer and shipper of high-quality produce has launched a new marketing campaign designed to encourage consumers to try a variety of candy grapes.

Four Star Fruit expands growing and shipping capabilities
Four Star Fruit expands growing and shipping capabilities

Delano, Calif.-based Four Star Fruit has acquired 1,100 acres of table grape vineyards and two modern distribution facilities near Bakersfield, Calif., from Grapeman Farms.

Pretty Lady Vineyards to showcase new varieties at West Coast Produce Expo
Pretty Lady Vineyards to showcase new varieties at West Coast Produce Expo

The California-based grower-shipper will be showcasing new varieties Autumn King, Great Green, Scarlet Royal, Allison, Sweet Globe, Flame, Ivory, Autumn Royal and Kriss grapes at the West Coast Produce Expo on May 20.

Sun World appoints Paola Barba as table grape breeder
Sun World appoints Paola Barba as table grape breeder

Paola Barba, who has a background in biotechnological engineering, grapevine research, and genetics and breeding, will be responsible for developing Sun World’s next generation of table grape varieties.

Ian LeMay to lead California Table Grape Commission
Ian LeMay to lead California Table Grape Commission

California Fresh Fruit Association President Ian LeMay will become president and CEO of the California Table Grape Commission in spring 2025, succeeding Kathleen Nave.

What's ahead for California table grapes, strawberries and cherries
What's ahead for California table grapes, strawberries and cherries

After a tough growing season characterized by rain, snow and unusually low winter temperatures, some project a promising year for summer fruit.

Later start but good quality expected for California tree fruit, melons
Later start but good quality expected for California tree fruit, melons

California is expected have plenty of good-quality tree fruit, melons and other commodities this summer, though some items might get off to a later start than usual, and early volume on others may be off a bit.