Chile: US importers hope for large grape harvest

US importers needn’t worry about a shortage in table grapes this winter, as Chile has announced it had an excellent harvest. Chile was able to recuperate from last year’s dramatic reduction and is now back in the market.

The volumes are just in time to fill the voids left by a meagre Californian yield. John Pandol, member of Pandol Bros. Inc., Of Delano, California, said that the California harvest is generally available until December, but this year this was not the case. "The harvest stopped on November 17," Pandol said, adding that less than 5% remained of the California crop.

Tom Tjerandsen, CFFA representative for North America, said "we hope to have access to a great harvest until April," when the trade agreement concerning the Chilean table grape import is over. Both Tjerandsen as Pandol anticipate the pricing of the Chilean agreement, although neither expects that prices will stabilize before February. "If the value drops below the "high teens" the Chileans with cease export," Pandol concludes.

Source: The Packer, SimFRUIT