Buoyed by an increase in the up-and-coming Scarlet Royal variety, David Clyde, president of Stevco, which has several offices around California, sees a strong start to the state’s fresh grape deal when Coachella Valley kicks off this month.

Mr. Clyde said the increase in the red seedless Scarlet Royal variety from this desert region will combine with a very good crop of large-sized Flame Seedless as well as “decent sized” Sugraones, which are a green seedless variety, to give many shippers at least three strong varieties to sell.

In addition, Stevco, like most growers and shippers, rounds out its offerings with other new and established varieties, including some black seedless grapes. But it is the newer Scarlet Royal that has the Stevco executive excited.

“It holds up very well and the world loves it,” he said, indicating that it will play well in the export market.

Because of timing, which is relatively late in the Coachella Valley, Mr. Clyde does not believe it will ever completely replace the Flame Seedless in this area. “Its only drawback is that it is late. We will have Scarlet Royals (from Coachella Valley) from the third week of June until mid-July.”

Flame Seedless should be in full production a month earlier. That mainstay variety appears to have a lot of life left. Mr. Clyde said there are some other up-and-coming varieties that may prove to rival Flame Seedless, but Scarlet Royal is carving out its own niche.

Later in the season in the San Joaquin Valley, he said, Scarlet Royals probably will replace some of the later Flame Seedless acreage as well as that of other red seedless varieties. He said the grape has great shelf life, which lends it well to export. “But the U.S. chains also love it. It has great full color that you just don’t have to worry about.”

Stevco offers a full complement of grapes from both Mexico and Coachella Valley. The company’s president said the quality on the Mexican grapes also is very good so U.S. buyers should have ample opportunity for promotion over the next several months. Mr. Clyde is very bullish on the upcoming season and grapes in general. “If we keep the quality up, it doesn’t matter what the size of the crop is, it will move,” he said. “With all the emphasis on good health what could be better than a bunch of great-tasting grapes?”

Like others in the industry, Stevco is experimenting with new pouch-type bags this year. He said it is an evolving change in the bag style that could have staying power. “I don’t know if the particular pouch bag that was used last year will change the industry per se. It is a specialty bag but it is leading to an evolution in bag technology. It’s a very nice bag that displays well and allows for great graphics,” he said. “But it’s a little tough to pack and ship so I think it does need to evolve.”

For this coming season, Mr. Clyde said Stevco has no major changes to report, as the same sales staff will be selling the deal. He and a couple of sales people will be relocating from Bakersfield to their Coachella Valley office once the season begins. Like most shippers, Stevco expects the first shipments by the middle of May with volume ramping up beginning the third week in May.