Mexico grape volume now peaking within longer season
Mexico grape volume now peaking within longer season
About halfway through the season in mid-June, the Sonora spring grape industry is looking ahead at a longer season and optional grading.
About 20 spring grape distributor-members of the Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and grower-partners from Hermosillo and Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, held their annual mid-season meeting June 7. The objective was to review current and projected spring grape shipments and to review U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections.
Chaired by John Pandol of Pandol Bros. in Delano, CA, the Sonora Spring Grape Division of the FPAA discussed lower-than-projected volumes to the United States and Canada this season, which are expected to total around 11 million boxes, down significantly from the 2005 record season of 18 million boxes.
Prices and volume have held steady the past few weeks, with the former expected to continue strong even past the July 4 holiday.
"We have seen our season stretch the past few years," Mr. Pandol said in a release. "We used to be a May-June deal. Now we have some seasons where we harvest as early as April, and we always go into mid-July."
Despite the smaller crop this season, the industry sees benefits in a market window created by later California grape and tree fruit harvests.
According to the group, the Sonora season was approximately at the halfway point as of the week of June 12. Hermosillo was to be shipping Sugraones and Flames for another two weeks. Flames were to reach peak volumes in Caborca the week of June 12, and Sugraones the following week.
Mike Morrelli, an official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture who oversees the Western Division of State Inspection Services, gave a presentation on the marketing order and import requirements for table grapes. He reviewed requirements for U.S. No. 1 Table, U.S. No. 1 Institutional and DGAC No. 1 Institutional grades. The latter -- a grade used only in the desert grape deal -- was seen as especially relevant to Sonora this season to ensure more shipments to non-retail venues. This inspection grade is used for bunches no more than five ounces in weight that constitute a single serving in foodservice.
"We are moving into market segmentation. Our industry is seeing that one size does not fit all and is embracing the fact that there is growing demand for grapes in commercial-institutional segments where smaller bunches are a bigger benefit," the statement said. Sonora has been shipping grapes into the United States and Canada for over 30 years. A merchandising program has been in place the last eight seasons, and promotions of spring grapes have increased by over 400 percent.
About 20 spring grape distributor-members of the Nogales, AZ-based Fresh Produce Association of the Americas and grower-partners from Hermosillo and Caborca, Sonora, Mexico, held their annual mid-season meeting June 7. The objective was to review current and projected spring grape shipments and to review U.S. Department of Agriculture inspections.
Chaired by John Pandol of Pandol Bros. in Delano, CA, the Sonora Spring Grape Division of the FPAA discussed lower-than-projected volumes to the United States and Canada this season, which are expected to total around 11 million boxes, down significantly from the 2005 record season of 18 million boxes.
Prices and volume have held steady the past few weeks, with the former expected to continue strong even past the July 4 holiday.
"We have seen our season stretch the past few years," Mr. Pandol said in a release. "We used to be a May-June deal. Now we have some seasons where we harvest as early as April, and we always go into mid-July."
Despite the smaller crop this season, the industry sees benefits in a market window created by later California grape and tree fruit harvests.
According to the group, the Sonora season was approximately at the halfway point as of the week of June 12. Hermosillo was to be shipping Sugraones and Flames for another two weeks. Flames were to reach peak volumes in Caborca the week of June 12, and Sugraones the following week.
Mike Morrelli, an official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture who oversees the Western Division of State Inspection Services, gave a presentation on the marketing order and import requirements for table grapes. He reviewed requirements for U.S. No. 1 Table, U.S. No. 1 Institutional and DGAC No. 1 Institutional grades. The latter -- a grade used only in the desert grape deal -- was seen as especially relevant to Sonora this season to ensure more shipments to non-retail venues. This inspection grade is used for bunches no more than five ounces in weight that constitute a single serving in foodservice.
"We are moving into market segmentation. Our industry is seeing that one size does not fit all and is embracing the fact that there is growing demand for grapes in commercial-institutional segments where smaller bunches are a bigger benefit," the statement said. Sonora has been shipping grapes into the United States and Canada for over 30 years. A merchandising program has been in place the last eight seasons, and promotions of spring grapes have increased by over 400 percent.
