South America

Honeybear Brands Says Pear Imports Begin March 1

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:28:26 GMT

Honeybear Brands says its fresh-picked crop of bartlett and bosc pears from the Southern Hemisphere will begin hitting retailer shelves in early March, with the season set to run through June 1.

Chuck Sinks, president of sales and marketing at Honeybear Brands, says that with harvest in Chile and Argentina beginning in late January and February, this means promotable volumes will begin shortly after as domestic storage begins to lose momentum, which he says creates a clean handoff. That means retailers avoid gaps while produce maintains quality, and there are strong promotable volumes without interruption.

“South American pears come online at exactly the moment U.S. domestic supplies begin to taper off. Washington storage fruit typically reaches their quality and volume limits between late February and early March,” Sinks says. “As controlled atmosphere rooms are opened and inventories wind down, retailers often see increasing pressure on condition, sizing and consistency.”

Honeybear says long-standing partnerships and a vertically aligned import program provide competitive pricing for retailers.

“Direct grower relationships reduce middle-layer costs and secure priority access to premium fruit,” Sinks says. “Consolidated shipping programs allow for better freight efficiency and predictable landed costs, and year-round category management means Honeybear can plan volumes, vessel timing and pack styles months in advance, avoiding the spot market volatility that often drives up import pricing.”

Sinks says this results in a stable, value-driven import program that competes with domestic storage fruit and other importers.

While bartlett pears will begin arriving March 1 and bosc around April 1, Sinks says the two varieties are complementary, especially when consumers understand the differences. Retailers can highlight bartlett’s juicy, aromatic profile along bosc’s firmer, denser eating experience, which encourages multivariety purchases, he says.

Also, consumers often misunderstand pear ripening. Sinks explains that a simple check-the-neck messaging can help boost consumer confidence and reduce shrinkage. Other messaging includes mix-and-match pear promotions that encourage consumers to try new varieties and help retailers move volume across both varieties.

“Bartletts lean sweet and floral; boscs hold their shape for baking and salads,” he says. “Pairing them with complementary items increases basket size.”

Sinks says this season, retailers can expect pears with higher natural sugars due to warm days and cool nights. Retailers can also expect clean, bright aromatics with bartletts and smooth texture and dense flesh with bosc, he adds.

“Quality is strong enough to support early-season ads,” Sinks says. “Retailers can confidently promote as soon as fruit arrives, without waiting for later vessels.”

Chilean blueberry volume forecast down 8% from 2021 season

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 22:52:27 GMT

Shipments of blueberries from Chile have started arriving in the U.S. and will continue through February. Over the course of the 2022-23 winter season, 98,228 tons of fresh blueberries are forecast to ship from Chile, an 8% percent decline from last year, says the Chilean Blueberry Committee and consulting firm, iQonsulting. The decline in volume is due to focusing on quality fruit exports over quantity, according to the group.

“Our No. 1 priority is delivering the highest quality blueberries to our international markets. Planting and exporting the right varieties are key, but the industry is also strengthening logistics through new programs like the Blueberry Express,” Andres Armstrong, executive director of the Chilean Blueberry Committee, said in a news release.

Related news: Naturipe begins Chilean blueberry season with high expectations

New programs are focused on shortening the transit time from Chile to the U.S. to less than two weeks. “It guarantees the maintenance of the cold chain, which is crucial for protecting fruit quality,” Armstrong continued.

The industry anticipates better conditions for the export of fresh blueberries in the upcoming season. Cooler temperatures have enhanced fruit quality, and there has been greater availability of labor for harvesting, packing and logistics operations, factors that made the previous season challenging, according to the release.

In addition to improving logistics, Chilean growers are also planting new blueberry varieties selected for post-harvest staying power, with the goal to land in shopper carts at peak flavor and sweetness.

Related news: Chilean blueberry production predicted stable, but fresh exports may be down

The U.S. continues to be Chile’s main market for fresh blueberries, receiving 54% of total volume, followed by Europe and Asia. Chile ships 75% of all fresh organic blueberries to the U.S. In the 2021/22 season, 22% of all blueberries shipped to the U.S. were organic, and 78% were conventional.

Peak blueberry arrivals to the U.S. from Chile are expected around the last week of December and first week of January with trade promotions expected to start early January and continue through February.

Cabilfrut, Green SuperFood combining efforts in avocado production and marketing

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 18:26:38 GMT

Chilean avocado producer and exporter Cabilfrut and Green SuperFood — an avocado producer in Colombia with operations also in Brazil — have teamed up to enhance their offerings, with commercial programs in the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin American markets.

“Our alliance is planned for the long term. We seek to integrate the strengths of both companies, from production to logistics and commercial,” Juan Pablo Cerda, executive director of Cabilfrut, said in the release.

“Our bet is ambitious, but at the same time, totally realistic. Green SuperFood already owns and operates a high-standard packing facility, which provides additional reliability to the operation in Colombia,” he added. “The idea is to promote it so that all the avocado that both companies produce in Colombia, will be processed there.”

Green SuperFood Director Rodrigo Manzo said in the release that, in the midterm, the companies hope to add other origins and other products, which go along with the alliance strategy.

“In the immediate future, we have begun utilizing physical and human infrastructure in a complementary manner,” Manzo said. “This reduces costs and improves operational agility, resulting in an optimal fruit offering, not only in quality but also in volume and service. This, in turn, will allow our producers to obtain a better return.”

Through the alliance, growth, efficiency and better results are expected, with “more producers joining this idea,” Cerda said.

Cabilfrut and Green SuperFood say they are simultaneously working on unifying their image and label to become one of the most recognized companies in their target markets.

The companies said in the release that they are “very excited and confident in this alliance,” since they share fundamental values for a successful business, such as knowledge of the avocado industry and experience in marketing.

Added to this is Green SuperFood’s work to grow the avocado industry in Colombia, with a focus on social awareness and sustainability in its operations, as well as the extensive experience and knowledge of the avocado industry, especially in marketing, that Cabilfrut has had for more than 34 years in the markets, according to the release.

Evan Pence joins AC brands as VP of international procurement

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:36:12 GMT

AC Brands has hired Evan Pence as vice president of international procurement.

Pence most recently was director of sourcing for Dole Diversified. Before that, he was the director of purchasing for Berry Fresh Produce LLC and North American blueberry operations manager for California Giant. He also was operations manager at Family Tree Farms.

His experience spans the berry category, stone fruit , citrus and table grapes , according to a news release from AC Foods, which markets fruit from Suntreat Citrus and Columbine Vineyards .

Pence has worked in Peru, Venezuela and Mexico to source fruit; at Dole, he oversaw procurement operations in Argentina, Chile, Peru and Mexico, according to the release. At AC Brands, he will help expand grape, citrus and berry offerings to year-round products.

“Evan‘s experience gives us the ability to hit the ground running as we look to procure strong volumes of high-quality grapes, citrus and berries,” Rick Johnston, executive vice president sales and marketing, said in the release.

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Asparagus company hires South American representative

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:50:35 GMT

Asparagus breeder and seed company Walker Brothers Inc. , Pittsgrove, N.J., recently added Pedro Cisneros Zevallos in Peru.

Zevallos, who has 23 years of experience in white and green asparagus, represents the company throughout South America. He has a master’s degree in plant breeding from Universidad Nacional Agraria in Lima and a master’s of science and Ph.D. in genetics from the University of California-Davis, according to a news release.

Katie Ralston, another Walker Brothers representative, has nearly 10 years of experience in agriculture, specializing in strawberries and asparagus, international logistics and trial evaluation, is based in California.

Wenjing Chen, assistant manager and international representative of Walker Brothers, She works with asparagus growers to establish new acreage and trials across the globe and is based in Poland.

Trials in 17 countries have been established to test new hybrids from the Walker breeding program, according to the company. Preliminary results obtained from the trials look promising, according to the release.

In the 2020-21 season, with Zevallo’s assistance, Walker Brothers will continue to set up new trials and evaluate commercial hybrids, according to the release.

Early South American mangoes reach U.S.

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:45:48 GMT

As mango shipments from Mexico start to wind down, imports from Brazil already are picking up, and Ecuador and Peru won’t be far behind, importers say.

“The overall demand for mangoes, whether they’re fresh or cut or frozen has been very, very high,” said Chris Ciruli, partner at Ciruli Bros. LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz.

This will be the third year that Ciruli Bros. will offer mangoes year-round.

“It’s the direction the customer want to go,” Ciruli said. “It keeps us busy in the months when Mexico isn’t producing.”

On average, over the past five years, the U.S. received nearly 32 million 4-kilogram (8.8-pound) boxes of mangoes from South America annually, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Brazil shipped about 8.2 million boxes to the U.S. annually, Ecuador about 12 million boxes and Peru about 11.6 million boxes.

South America accounts for about 28% of total U.S. volume.

Brazil, which ships from August to December, exports primarily the tommy atkins variety and a few kent and ataulfo (or honey) varieties; Ecuador ships tommy atkins and some kents and ataulfos from October to January; and Peru exports kents and a few ataulfos from November to March, according to various South American mango organizations.

Quality of the mangoes varies by country, said Richard Campbell, vice president of global operations for Ciruli Bros.

“South America is a long way away, so the real game for the quality totally depends on transit time,” he said.

“The faster you can get (mangoes) to the U.S., the better quality potential you have.”

Product from Ecuador can reach the U.S. in six or seven days, he said, while the trip from Peru takes 11 days, and the voyage from Brazil can take 14 or 15 days.

Freska Produce International LLC , Oxnard, Calif, was kicking off its mango program from Brazil in late August with shipments to the East Coast, said Tom Hall, sales manager.

U.S. importers aren’t traveling during the pandemic, so Hall said he is taking exporters’ word that quality should be good on this year’s mangoes.

Historical mango sales trends are “out the window” this year thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ronnie Cohen, partner/principal at Vision Import Group , Hackensack, N.J.

Foodservice sales are down significantly, he said, with restaurants closed or limiting operations and with live events canceled.

Suppliers have had to adjust by focusing their attention on the retail side.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based CarbAmericas Inc . has been offering offshore mangoes for more than 25 years, said president Jeff Friedman.

The company received its first fruit of the season from Brazil in late August.

“It looks really good,” he said, with a high percentage of red blush and 16% to 22% pressure.

Early fruit usually starts with smaller sizes — 9s, 10s and 12s — then progresses into larger sizing — 7s, 8s, 9s and 10s — he said.

Friedman said he had no indication about the quality of the fruit from Ecuador yet.

Last year, Peruvian shippers had some trouble moving all their product through the system.

“There were more mangoes than there were processing plants to do the hot water treatment,” he said.

Miami-based J&C Tropicals will start its Ecuador program with the nam doc mai variety, a Thai mango that kicks off the season every year, said Luis Cintron, director of sales and procurement.

This year, mangoes should be available from Ecuador the second week of October, he said, a week or two earlier than last year.

Weather “seems to be working out perfectly,” in Ecuador, Cintron said.

It was too early to forecast availability from Ecuador, he said in late August.

“The fruit is tiny and trees are still flowering,” he said.

Pompano Beach, Fla.-based Central American Produce Inc ., expected to start its mango program from Brazil on Sept. 4, said Michael Warren, owner and president.

Tommy atkins will be the first variety, and the company also will offer palmer and kent mangoes this year.

“It seems as though Brazil is looking at expanding to varieties besides atkins that they focused on for the last 20 years for the U.S. market,” Warren said.

Cool weather in Brazil and Ecuador should help bring on some flavorful mangoes, he added.

As the South American mango season gets underway, the possibility of the new coronavirus impacting the picking and packing operations is in the back of the minds of some importers, Ciruli said.

“I think that will definitely will be a concern,” he said.

All three countries have been hit hard by COVID-19, said Friedman of CarbAmericas .

“Who knows what the dynamic is with COVID and how these plants are going to operate — whether it’s Brazil, Ecuador or Peru,” he said.

Related Content:

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USDA responds to South African mango request with draft assessment

Vote on whether to continue mango order set

Smurfit Kappa exec appointed to Latin American corrugated group

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 18:41:34 GMT

Smurfit Kappa executive Juan Pablo Perez has been appointed as the president of the Corrugators Association of the Caribbean and Central and South America.

Perez, the chief financial officer for Smurfit Kappa The Americas, will be in charge of leading industry relations with the public and private organizations across the region, according to a news release.

Perez began in his career at Smurfit Kappa in 1996 and has had his current position for two years. His other positions at Smurfit Kappa include general manager of the Bogota, Colombia, and Dominican Republic corrugated plants, according to the release.

The association has contributed to the development and growth of the Latin American corrugated industry for 40 years through the exchange of experiences, ideas and technological knowledge, according to the release.

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Smurfit Kappa teams up with World Wildlife Fund in Colombia

Packaging company Smurfit Kappa releases sustainability report

Smurfit Kappa celebrates sustainability progress

Terra Exports hires Manuel Escandon in South America division

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:10:58 GMT

Terra Exports, Las Vegas, has hired Manuel Escandon, who is based in Chile, as part of its South American expansion.

The company opened a tropicals division in January. Escandon has been a Chile-based exporter, and has nearly 20 years of experience, working with suppliers in Peru, Chile and Argentina, which are key export markets for Terra Exports, according to a news release.

“We have been growing organically and quickly, and need to hire people who thrive in this circumstance, like Manuel,” Rodrigo Fernandez, managing director of South America for Terra Exports, said in the release. “His expertise, knowledge and his impressive industry will help the company reach its goals faster.”

Del Monte pineapple tags highlight sustainability projects

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:24:38 GMT

Del Monte Fresh Produce North America Inc. , Coral Gables, is introducing pineapple tags to highlight sustainability efforts.

The company’s gold pineapples will feature tags featuring six Del Monte Fresh sustainability facts, according to a news release.

“Sustainability is ingrained in our company values,” Dennis Christou, vice president marketing for Del Monte Fresh,” said in the release. “We not only strive to conduct our business in ethical, socially responsible and transparent ways due to our respect for our employees and the communities they live in, but we want our consumers to feel good about the food they are eating when enjoying Del Monte Fresh products.”

The tags will focus on six sustainability facts:

In Kenya, Del Monte’s protected waterway supports more than 95 hippopotamuses;
The company gave 640 scholarships to children in Central American communities in 2017;
Del Monte Fresh Produce has recycled more than 30,000 tons of plastic used on its banana farms since 1995;.
More than 1,000 species of animals live at Del Monte’s El Tigre Forest Reserve in Costa Rica;
A redesign of Del Monte pineapple boxes in 2000 has reduced paper use by more than 160,000 tons; and
More than 90% of Del Monte pineapples are grown on sustainably grown certified farms.

Del Monte Fresh Produce has also planted more than 700,000 trees, funded clean water projects in Kenya and the Philippines and has reduced energy consumption, according to the release.

The Del Monte Sustainability Report outlines the company’s progress.

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Value-added sales growing, says Fresh Del Monte Produce

Del Monte Fresh details sustainability measures in report

Del Monte Fresh Produce launches ‘Better in Bananavision’ campaign

U.S., other berry groups make sustainable packaging pledge

Fri, 13 Nov 2020 06:25:16 GMT

Berry growers and trade associations in the U.S., Mexico and South America are pledging to use 100% recycle-ready packaging for all fresh berries by 2025.

The collaboration includes a commitment to new label standards throughout North America, an agreement to encourage consumer recycling of clamshells, and plans to establish new purchase specifications for packaging manufacturers, according to a news release.

The initiative’s website is BerrySustainable.com .

The commitment is a team effort, said Kasey Cronquist, president of the North American Blueberry Council.

“This commitment to 100% recycle-ready packaging reflects a team effort and our continued focus on helping our growers, shippers and industry partners attain a goal that no one organization could accomplish alone,” Cronquist said in the release.

Groups that have signed on for the initiative are:

California Strawberry Commission
North American Blueberry Council
Asociacion national de Exportadores de Berries (Aneberries), Mexico
National Berry Crops Initiative members

The Argentinean Blueberry Committee, Chilean Blueberry Committee and Peru’s ProArandanos have also pledged to adopt the sustainable packaging goals.

“By working together as competitive collaborators, these actions will create economies of scale to reduce costs, and stimulate a closed-loop circular economy that recycles berry clamshells back into new berry clamshells,” according to the release.
For more than a decade, clamshells used to pack berries and other food have been made from recycled materials, according to the release, and this initiative complements those efforts.

“Berry farming has a long history of innovation and leadership that once again came together to make this ambitious pledge,” Rick Tomlinson, president of the California Strawberry Commission, said in the release. “Achieving 100% recycle ready packaging represents the type of continuous improvement that is common among farmers as they strive for ever improving efficiency.”

“Recycle-ready” refers to the industry enacting measures to to maximize recyclability, but acknowledging there is a variability in acceptance and infrustructure at materials recycling facilities and recyclers, according to a spokesperson for the group.

The berry groups are not calling for an end to plastic packaging, which uses post-consumer products like water bottles to make clamshells. Clamshells create a market for those water bottles and make a lightweight and clear packaging to protect berries from damage and contamination, according to the release, reducing food waste and use of raw materials to make food packaging.

“Clamshell packaging revolutionized the ability of berry growers to transport their fruit to consumers nationwide,” Henry Bierlink, president of the National Berry Crops Initiative, said in the release. “Now, the industry is working together on the next phase of that revolution, one that preserves the ability to safely transport fresh berries to market while minimizing product damage, reducing food waste, and demonstrating ongoing environmental stewardship.”

Berry companies are making commitments to “explore more sustainable and scalable solutions,” including:

Encouraging material recyclers and consumers to recycle clamshells;
Using post-consumer recycled content in clamshells; and
Supporting use of new materials that are readily recyclable and/or compostable.

Related stories:

Cost still key hurdle for more sustainable packaging, panel says

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Sustainability in packaging: consumers know it when they see it

GrubMarket buys fruit seller Bengard Marketing

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:12:35 GMT

GrubMarket has acquired domestic and imported fruit marketer Bengard Marketing Inc.

It’s the sixth company that GrubMarket has acquired in the Los Angeles area since it was founded in 2014 in San Francisco, according to a news release.

Bengard Marketing sells domestic fruit and imported fruit from Chile, Argentina, Peru and New Zealand, and is a major importer of South American cherries and stone fruit on the West Coast, according to the release. GrubMarket describes itself as a “food technology startup operating in the space of food e-commerce (both B2B & B2C) and providing related technologies (vertical SaaS) to solve inefficiencies in the American food supply chain.”

“Bengard Marketing built its success with buyers and suppliers on integrity and honesty,” CEO Broc Bengard said in the release. “GrubMarket shares the same principles we have. Coming together allows us to promote the sustainability of healthy food from farm to fork and grow wherever suppliers and buyers need an honest, hardworking partner.”

Company founder Jim Bengard began importing with a program to bring in Chilean fruit in 1978, and added product from other countries later. His son, Broc Bengard, took the reins of the company in 2010, according to the release, and Bengard Marketing imports more than a million boxes of fruit a year.

Bengard Marketing’s management will remain the same. Grubmarket CEO Mike Xu said in the release that Bengard marketing created a business sector importing fair trade fruit from South American growers who practice sustainability.

“Together, we will strengthen our customer base and extend our grower network to Latin America and Oceania,” Xu said in the release. “Their deep insights of cross-continent food supply chain, logistics and warehouse management will also benefit the evolution of our software technology.”

Bengard Marketing will be using GrubMarket’s proprietary WholesaleWare software, giving suppliers and vendors seamless financial management, user-friendly online ordering and sales, according to the release.

Awe Sum Organics begins winter organic table grape season

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 20:59:00 GMT

Santa Cruz, Calif.-based organic fruit importer Awe Sum Organics has kicked off its organic Peruvian table grape winter program.

The program helps to fill the winter organic table grape gap starting in early December, when the California grape season is wrapping up, and ending in April, according to a news release.

“Our growers’ organic table grape vineyards in Northern and Southern Peru combine to provide a good supply all winter long of red and green seedless grapes and now we have a top quality South African Organic Table Grape grower helping us to fill the transition period between our Northern Peru and our Southern Peru harvests,” David Posner, founder, president and CEO of Awe Sum Organics, said in the release.

The importer begins the winter organic grape season with grapes from northern Peru and finishes the season with southern Peruvian organic grape production, according to the release.

Related new: Mexican grape output may dip in 2023, USDA report says

“Our crisp and sweet flavor speaks volumes. Awe Sum Organics started this project to grow grapes organically in Peru over 15 years ago,” Posner said in the release. “Our organic Peruvian red and green seedless grapes have been in development since early 2007 when I dreamed of creating an organic table grape program for U.S. and Canada for the winter months to be available starting when California finishes and until Sonora Mexico begins to compliment the domestic grape season. There are many challenges to growing table grapes organically in Peru for shipment to the U.S. and Canada, and we have worked through all of them over the years.”

Crystal Valley adds Anthony Leombruno in sales

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:49 GMT

Crystal Valley Foods , Miami, has hired Anthony Leombruno as retail sales associate.

Leombruno comes to Crystal Valley from San Diego-based Altar Produce, where he was East Coast sales manager. Before that, he was a salesman for Ayco Farms, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

He has more than 18 years of experience in the industry, according to a Crystal Valley news release. Leombruno will help expand and develop the company’s growing national retail sales.

“With his extensive knowledge about asparagus and produce sales, he will be an integral part of our team and play an important role in expanding our customer base,” Jay Rodriguez, president of Crystal Valley, said in the release.

He will be based at the company’s Miami headquarters.

Crystal Valley is an importer of produce from Central and South America, and also has facilities in Los Angeles.

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Organic blueberries slowly growing

Import berry season begins for Crystal Valley Foods

Oppenheimer’s Sun World grape program expands availability

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 02:14:22 GMT

The Oppenheimer Group is able to offer grapes grown in Southern Hemisphere country, as dictated by demand.

Sun World Innovations, which licenses proprietary grape varieties to be grown in numerous countries, recently named Oppy as one of a group of North American countries to import and market Sun World varieties.

“This is meaningful for Oppy because it broadens our grape portfolio with many of the exciting varieties our customers are seeking,” Bill Poulos, grape category director at Oppy, said in a news release. “We’re honored to have been selected among the handful of marketers granted a standard import license, which enables us to partner with a wide span of growers throughout the Southern Hemisphere — and beyond — in this innovative program.”

Those varieties include Sun World’s AutumnCrisp, Midnight Beauty and Scarlotta Seedless,

Oppy will be working with retailers on South American grape promotions soon, and Sun World varieties complement the company’s current grape program, according to the release.

Companies receiving licenses from Sun World completed comprehensive applications covering sales, marketing, importing, quality control and logistics practices, according to the release.

“It’s an exciting time to be in the grape category, with a wide range of varieties produced by top growers in several countries,” Poulos said in the release.

Related articles:

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Terra Exports hires Manuel Escandon in South America division

Tue, 15 Nov 2022 07:42:56 GMT

Table grape importers pen agreement to shift markets

Thu, 13 Apr 2023 14:50:17 GMT

Produce grower-shipper Divine Flavor and table grape breeder and licenser Sun World International have agreed to an enhanced collaboration deal for premium table grapes. If successful, the deal could reshape the Mexican table grape industry, the companies say.

The alliance’s goal is to ensure consistent, promotable supplies of Autumncrisp brand grapes for North American markets and to introduce several promising, early ripening varieties for production in growing regions in Sonora, Mexico, according to a news release, which added that the strategic collaboration will:

Deliver more premium table grapes to North American markets at key times of the year, bolstering volume for central holiday time frames.
Bring more than 3 million boxes of Mexico-grown table grapes to market.
Supply South American product from December through May with Sun World’s premium green seedless Autumncrisp branded grapes being the primary focus.

“We are ecstatic about being able to supply more volume of an excellent grape such as Autumncrisp and expanding its availability at key times of the year,” Carlos Bon, vice president of sales for Divine Flavor, said in the release. “Divine Flavor anticipates delivering Autumncrisp grapes from December to the end of May, ensuring volume of the mid-to-late season green grape from Christmas through Memorial Day weekend.”

The agreement was signed in Hermosillo, Mexico, at the offices of Grupo Alta, where Sun World CEO David Marguleas was joined by Alta/Divine Flavor President and CEO Alan Aguirre and Divine Flavor’s Bon, alongside Petri van de Merwe, global licensing director for Sun World, and other members of the companies.

“We’re the only company who is capable of pulling this off, and we eagerly look forward to the opportunity,” Bon said in the release.

The agreement will contribute significantly to the South American import deal, but a cornerstone of the agreement also involves Grupo Alta’s newer vineyard in Jalisco, Mexico — Don Mario — which produces grapes from the end of March to mid-May, as well as various parts of Sonora during the traditional Mexican table grape season.

“This strategic collaboration agreement between Sun World and Grupo Alta/Divine Flavor will result in expanded access to commercial volumes of new and superior Sun World grape varieties for discerning retailers and consumers throughout North America at important times of the year,” Marguleas said in the release.

Shared history of trialing fruit varietals

It was nearly 20 years ago when Marguleas and Aguirre met and began exploring opportunities to bring new table grape and stone fruit varieties to Mexico. During that time, Sun World and Grupo Alta have worked together closely to trial new fruit varieties for adaptation to farms in Sonora and more recently in Jalisco, according to the release.

“Grupo Alta and Sun World share a commitment to innovation, to consistently delighting consumers, and developing unique growing regions like Jalisco. Together, over the past two decades, we have trialed new fruit varieties, gained insights into our companies, and have delivered several important new Sun World-bred table grapes to customers around the world,” Marguleas said in the release. “We are especially encouraged by Grupo Alta’s expanded supply of Autumncrisp brand grapes during the underserved April-May market window as well as the bold footprint they have established on their own farms and with affiliated producers throughout Sonora where several promising new Sun World varieties are being trialed.”

During the signing ceremony, the two companies announced plans for replacing older varieties with newer ones, including several red seedless varieties that will eventually replace the Flame seedless. Bon said that the company is constantly searching for the best varieties to grow, and it has aggressive plans to stay a step ahead when it comes to supplying newer varietals.

“Divine Flavor and Grupo Alta have excellent relationships with first class breeders around the world and this gave us the opportunity to trial certain varieties which we believe are the future of the grape industry. Autumncrisp brand grapes have proven to be a clear winner as the premium green seedless in the marketplace due to its outstanding flavor, proper aesthetics, and its ability to provide consumers with a great eating experience,” Bon said in the release.