How table grape growers can prepare for El Niño 2023
Bloom Fresh, a Bakersfield, Calif.-based 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.
El Niño's effects vary, bringing extreme heat to some regions while inundating others with heavy rainfall, making it essential to adapt growing tactics accordingly, according to a news release.
"El Niño demands a global strategy to protect table grape crops," Pietro Scafidi, global research and development manager for Bloom Fresh, said in the release. "Given its diverse impacts on different countries, our mission is to leverage our two decades of expertise and research to assist growers in safeguarding their crops, ultimately yielding top-quality, robust and delicious table grapes."
Bloom Fresh's dedicated technical team for table grapes routinely dispatches experts to the 24 countries where the company's table grapes flourish; they collaborate with licensed growers on-site, sharing knowledge tailored to each region's specific requirements, the release said.
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In areas experiencing extreme heat due to El Niño, growers face heightened challenges in irrigation due to increased evapotranspiration rates, the release said. This combined process involves water evaporating from the ground and transpiring from plants, necessitating greater water inputs to maintain vine health. Techniques like netting to reduce water consumption become vital, according to Bloom Fresh.
Scafidi highlights the resilience of certain table grape varietals, such as Sweet Globe, Candy Snaps, Candy Dreams, and Candy Hearts, which have thrived in desert conditions in California's Central Valley. These successes offer assurance that consumers and retailers will continue to access hardy and tasty table grapes, the release said.
At the same time, varietals like Sweet Celebration, Candy Crunch, Rugby, and IFG Forty-six have exhibited remarkable resistance to splits and decay, even under high rainfall pressures near harvest, according to the release.
For regions anticipating intense rainfall, the strategic use of plastic covers can shield crops effectively, says Scafidi, who emphasizes the importance of proper installation during the rainy season, including row planting distances and the height of the plastic above the canopy, as key factors for success.
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As Bloom Fresh faces climatic challenges head-on, decades of data collection are proving invaluable, the company says.
In 2019, Bloom Fresh launched a digital transformation initiative, integrating data into a unified system. This enhanced system enables the Bloom Fresh technical team to offer more precise recommendations and informed decisions, benefiting both existing fruit varieties and licensees, the release said.
The fruit-breeding company says these capabilities prove particularly valuable during challenging times, whether related to weather or other geopolitical factors affecting the farm-to-table process.
"Our primary objective is to bolster the success of our licensees," Scafidi said. "The automation of Bloom’s systems and data collection methods delivers a multitude of advantages. The technical team's expertise is shared throughout the supply chain, benefiting every stage from the field to harvest, packaging and sales."
