The California grape season continues on with strong production and will do so for another month or so. The grape growing region extends across the entire San Joaquin Valley at the moment. "We are harvesting table grapes in all areas of the Valley," shared Jared Lane of Grapeman Farms. "The harvest season is just starting to wind down now and we expect it to finish either a little before or a little after Thanksgiving."
With more than half of the harvest now over, producers have noted that growing conditions have been quite good. Lane said the weather conditions have resulted in strong production and is also advantageous for the storage crop. "Late season conditions have been very conducive for grape growing," he explained. "There has not been a lot of rain which helps the longevity of the storage crop. Dry weather nullifies pressure for spore growth and mold."
In season and available at the moment for Grapeman Farms are several grape varieties, including Autumn King, Allison, Sweet Scarlet and Autumn Royal.
Market soft but movement is still strong
On the flip side, the strong production levels have meant there is an abundance of California grapes on the market. The excellent weather conditions have resulted in larger berry sizes and subsequently greater volume, leading to a softer market.
"There is huge production coming of the San Joaquin Valley this year," Lane observed. "The good conditions have led to bigger berry sizes, and bigger berry sizes means more boxes. The market has been in a supply exceeds demand situation since the beginning of the season. The good news is that the lower prices have meant we are seeing strong movement of grapes."
Exports are also down slightly which Lane said is not attributed to the tariffs. "Exports are down because of the strong dollar, along with the fact that table grapes are now being grown in more regions."
For more information:
Jared Lane
Grapeman Farms
Tel: +1 (661) 392-1719
jlane@grapeman.com
www.grapeman.com