Fresh Farms offering early Mexican grapes

Fresh Farms, Rio Rico, Ariz., will bring its one-source shopping experience to the industry with a wide array of dry vegetables, with increased volumes in varietal corn, green beans and watermelon, said Alan Voll, sales representative. 

He said the biggest change to this year’s program will be increased volume of green and red grape varieties from the Jalisco growing region, which has been under development by the Molina family for several years. Jalisco grapes will enter the marketplace around Mid-March and ship to the end of April.

Voll said the early grapes are experiencing very strong demand from retailers. The early grapes from Mexico are especially well-timed this year, when Chile is expected to struggle with late season quality, he said. 

Grapes from the major production area in Sonora, Mexico, about 800 miles to the north of Jalisco, typically begin in early May. However, the Sonora harvest could be slightly later this year because of cooler weather there, Voll said.