With “strong and steady” demand, the 2020 California table grape season should be a positive one, said Kathleen Nave, president of the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission.
The state’s growers are expected to ship 104.9 million 19-pound boxes of table grapes this season, similar to last year’s 104.99, according to the commission.
“The significant amount of vineyard removal in 2019 appears to have been offset by new vineyards coming into production in 2020,” Nave said in a news release.
“Quality is excellent and demand is strong in the U.S. and in export markets, and grapes are a perfect fit for consumers in these complicated times: simple, flavorful, versatile, and full of health-enhancing phytonutrients that boost immune health,” she said.
More than 80 varieties are grown in California.
Yields of green varieties were far lighter in July than last season, said Brett Dixon, president of Bakersfield, Calif,-based Top Brass Marketing Inc.
“However, the red varieties have been comparable or even a little better yields than last season.”
The red grapes have a larger size profile, he said, and the green varieties “have been very impressive so far.”
He expects good supplies for the remainder of the season.
Top Brass offers red seedless Scarlet Royal, Krissy, Timco, Sweet Scarlet, Jack’s Salute and Allison and green seedless Princess, Great green, Sweet Globe, Luisco and Autumn King.
The company also features several high-flavored candy varieties.
“Fall heads into a time period that is the heart of our season,” Dixon said.
Top Brass has seen increased demand for its grapes at the retail level during the pandemic with consumers wanting to eat healthy at home, he said.
Fruit Royale Inc., Delano, Calif., expects to ship 1.2 million boxes of table grapes this season, an increase of 10%-15% over last year, said Louie Galvan, managing partner.
“The meat of our deal is typically September, October, November,” he said.
The company is trying to keep with up all the new varieties, Galvan said.
Those varieties include Magenta red seedless — an “absolutely gorgeous,” bright-red, super-sweet variety available until early September.
There also are Great greens, with “good size, good crunch and good eating qualities,” also available into September; Scarlet Royal, probably the biggest volume variety right behind Autumn King, started in mid-August and should be available for a month, he said.
Vintage Red is the last red seedless variety, available from mid-September until early October.
The green seedless Autumn King is the last variety, so the company tries to make it last as long as possible, Galvan said.
It is harvested from late August or early September until mid-December, he said.
“Fall is a great time,” Galvan said.
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