Shipments of California grapes are down about 8% from last season, but average per-pound prices for the major varieties are the same.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, California had shipped 462.25 million pounds of grapes through Aug. 24, compared to 503.41 million pounds at the same time last season. As the season approaches fall shipments, it’s unlikely that this year’s volumes will approach those of last season during the fall.
California grape shippers set a record for most shipments from Sept. 8 through Oct. 12, 2018, moving more than 23 million boxes during the five-week period, according to the California Table Grape Commission.
According to the USDA, average per-pound prices in late August for black seedless, red globe, red seedless and white seedless grapes on ad were $1.79 in 2018 and 2019. The average weighted price of black seedless grapes at more than 5,600 stores in late August was $1.94 a pound, compared to $1.68 a pound in 2018. Red globes, however, on average were $1.60 a pound in late August and $1.91 a pound in late August 2018, according to the USDA.
