Grapeco Farms, Delano, CA, has a full line of traditional grape varieties throughout the year, but it’s been expanding acreage of newer, more flavorful grapes to supply a growing demand from retailers.

In particular, Grapeco co-owner Jared Lane highlighted three varieties on the rise at the company: Great Green, Sweet Globe and Bebop.

The San Joaquin Valley is home to some of the premier agricultural land in the United States, with the region producing a wide variety of agriculture products that are exported around the world.

The San Joaquin Valley is approximately 27,478 square miles in area. Of this area, 7,948 square miles are considered prime farmland, farmland of statewide importance, or “unique farmland based upon research done by the California Department of Conservation.

The team at Grapeco Farms, a Delano, CA-based company that was founded by industry veterans Jared Lane and Robert Cadena, is busy at work with the Mexican grape season, which is one of the strongest production areas for the company.

Grapeco is one of the first farms to get started with early fruit, and also one of the last to finish.

“We started Mexico a little bit later than we thought we would due to the cold March,” Lane said. “We started harvesting right around May 13, and volume is ramping up, and it looks like it’s going to be a very fruitful Mexican season.”

Fruit Royale Inc. is an experienced grower/shipper of table grapes, working directly with its contracted growers on all aspects of fruit production — growing, packing, cooling, storing, logistics and sales.

“We have been active in the production of premium table grapes in the San Joaquin Valley since 2004,” said Louie Galvan, managing partner of the Delano, CA-based company. “Our year-round figures are in the 3-5 million box range, and we supply premium quality grapes from around the world.”

Fruit Royale Inc. is an experienced grower shipper of table grapes, working directly with its contracted growers on all aspects of fruit production—growing, packing, cooling, storing, logistics and sales.

“We are responsible for over 1,200 acres in California and the San Joaquin supplies us and our customer from July through December,” said Louie Galvan, managing partner of the Dealno, CA-based company. “Year-round figures are in the 3-5 million box range, and we supply premium quality grapes from around the world.”

Grapeco Farms LLC, a new venture that was formed this year by industry vets Robert Cadena and Jared Lane, is working to offer a year-round supply of high-flavor tri-color varieties to retailers.

“We set out to have the best quality fruit for the correct customers,” said Jared Lane, CEO for the Delano, CA-based company.

Together, Lane and Cadena offer a combined 50 years of experience and a united philosophy of providing the highest quality grapes to customers while maximizing the return to the grower.