Grapeco Farms prepares for early Mexican grape season with strong supply
Grapeco Farms prepares for early Mexican grape season with strong supply
As Mexican grape season approaches, Grapeco Farms is positioning itself for another strong year, backed by expanded plantings, new varieties and a continued focus on quality. Founded by industry veterans Jared Lane and Robert Cadena, the Shafter, CA -based company has built a year-round grape program through strategic partnerships in Mexico, California and South America, with Mexican production serving as a cornerstone of its business.
“Mexican grapes are probably the biggest platform we operate on,” Lane said. “They represent a significant portion of what we do throughout the year.”
Grapeco Farms has invested heavily in its Mexican operations, particularly in key growing regions such as Carbo, and the Pesqueira area. The company has focused on redeveloping older vineyards while aggressively planting new acreage, ensuring it remains competitive in both quality and supply.
“We’ve been very aggressive,” Lane said. “There’s a lot of new varieties and really good quality coming out of Mexico right now.”
In terms of scale, Grapeco ranks among the top importers of Mexican grapes, moving just under 2 million boxes annually. That volume, combined with a growing portfolio of proprietary and specialty varieties, allows the company to meet the needs of a diverse customer base across retail, wholesale and club channels.
Looking ahead to the 2026 season, Lane expects an earlier start than usual due to warmer weather conditions.
“It’s been a very warm winter and an abnormally hot spring,” he said. “We expect to start harvesting around May 5 or 6, with a peak possibly coming a bit earlier than normal, maybe late May instead of early June.”
While the crop is not expected to be exceptionally large, Lane believes there will still be ample supply to support promotions.
“It’s more of an average crop,” he said. “There should still be plenty of fruit to promote, but I think we’re going to see a wide range in quality, from very high-flavor, crunchy grapes to some lower-quality fruit.”
That variation underscores the importance of sourcing and handling, areas where Grapeco Farms believes it has a competitive advantage.
“We’re growers in Mexico, and we spend a lot of time there,” Lane said. “The quality of our fruit and our relationships with customers are what set us apart.”
Customer relationships remain central to the company’s approach. Grapeco supplies a wide range of accounts, from year-round retail partners to seasonal buyers focused on the Mexican deal. Lane emphasized that consistency and communication are key to maintaining those partnerships.
“It really comes down to good fruit, good communication and giving customers a fair price,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about putting quality fruit on the shelf so they can keep their business moving.”
One of the biggest shifts within the grape category has been the transition toward newer varieties. Grapeco has leaned heavily into that trend, moving away from conventional varieties in favor of premium, high-flavor options.
“We’re constantly adding new varieties,” Lane said. “Some of the new ones we’re bringing on include Cherry Crush and Mystic Charm, and we’re seeing strong demand for varieties like Bebop, which has become one of our most sought-after grapes.”
Packaging trends are also evolving, with more retailers shifting toward private-label bag programs. While this offers branding opportunities for customers, it can also add complexity to operations.
“A lot of chains are moving to private-label bags, which makes packing more challenging,” Lane said. “It’s definitely something we have to stay on top of.”
Despite that and other challenges, the company remains optimistic, particularly given the strong movement of fruit earlier this year.
“The market has handled volume better than expected,” Lane said. “That’s a positive sign as we head into the Mexican season.”
Over the course of the next year, Grapeco is also expanding its organic program, with all new plantings focused on organic production.
“We’re really excited about our organic program,” Lane said. “Everything new we’re planting is organic, and we see a lot of opportunity there, especially with high-flavor varieties.”
