Imported Chilean f.o.b grape prices are up compared with a year ago, but trade sources expect good supply for March promotions.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Market News Service reported March 6 prices for extra large Chilean red seedless grapes at $20 to $24 per carton, up from $16 to $20 per carton the same day a year ago.
Volume has been off until now this year for imported grapes. Season-to-date Chilean imports of Chilean grapes through early March were down 32% compared with a year ago, according to the USDA, while imports from Peru were off 46% compared with the same time a year ago.
The March 6 Pro*Act market report said that imported grape supplies from Chile and Peru were increasing and quality was strong in early March. A consistent volume of imported grapes is expected through early April, with grapes transitioning to Mexican supply by mid-April.
The early March market was under downward pressure with increasing volume and prices may decline with ample volume in the near term, according to the report.
U.S. Marketing Services reported a range of retail prices for red seedless grapes in selected U.S. cities, ranging from a low ad price of $1.28 per pound in Detroit to a high of $3.99 per pound in Seattle and New York.
Retail promotions of red seedless grapes were reported by the USDA in 7,637 U.S. stores for the week of March 1 with an average price of $2.48 per pound. That compares 8,186 stores promoting red seedless grapes a year ago at an average price of $3.07 per pound.
