BAKERSFIELD, CA — At one time, Sun World International LLC, here, was heavy to the Sugraone variety in its table grape program. The variety, an early season green seedless that was developed by the Sun World breeding program and which Sun World markets under the proprietary trade brand of “Superior Seedless,” was once a Sun World exclusive but is now in the public domain.

With a focus on the Sugraone in earlier years, Sun World focused on the early season and “didn’t have much late grapes, other than Crimson,” according to Rick Paul, category director.

BAKERSFIELD, CA — The Maricopa district, located on the west edge of California’s San Joaquin Valley at its southern extremity, is among the earliest districts in the valley for grape production, but it also does well with late-season varieties. For Stevco, which is headquartered in Los Angeles with branch offices located here and in Coachella, CA, and a seasonal sales office in Nogales, AZ, the Maricopa district is the major focus for the company’s acreage and variety expansion.

The Chuck Olsen Co. Inc. in Visalia, CA, has “probably about a 30 percent increase overall” in grape acreage this year, not because of new plantings but because of additional growers the company has picked up, according to Jeff Olsen, vice president.

“We’ve got new growers” who have brought into the mix “a little bit more Sweet Scarlets, more Scarlet Royals, a few Autumn Kings, more Princess, more Thompsons, more Crimsons, more Autumn Royals and more Red globes,” he said.

TULARE, CA — Sundale Sales Inc., the marketing arm of Sundale Vineyard, here, is continuing its expansion of its physical facilities to accommodate ongoing growth of the company’s grape volume and to allow for expansion as that growth continues into the future.

Sundale Sales is a partnership between Sean Stockton, the company’s president, and the Kinosian family that owns Sundale Vineyards.

BAKERSFIELD, CA — Anthony Vineyards, here, has several new varieties of grapes coming into production or increasing in production this year, mostly in its organic program. As well, “we are adding on to our facilities here,” said John Harley, vice president of sales and marketing.

DELANO, CA — “Jasmine Vineyards is proud to be a licensee of International Fruit Genetics, one of the world’s leading fruit breeding operations. This partnership gives Jasmine access to IFG’s proprietary selections of the highest quality grapes the world has to offer.” So states the web site of Jasmine Vineyards, here.