With only a week or so to go before the start of the Sonora’s table grape season, both Hermosillo and Caborca crops are heading up to a good season, with an estimated volume of 19 million cartons.
Generally, the Mexican table grape season starts the first week of May and lasts all the way through the first or second week of July, with varieties like Red Globe, however, the vast majority of the total volume comes down by the end of June.
Sonora grape production signifies beginning of spring
“Sonora’s table grape production is extremely important for the fresh produce industry as it happens right between the end of the South American season, mainly from Chile and Peru, countries with the highest exports to the United States, and the beginning of the California season, mostly from the San Joaquin Valley”, explains Miky Suarez, president at MAS Melons & Grapes, LLC.
“I think Sonora along with the Coachella Valley in California are considered as the beginning of the spring, since after a long winter season, it is time for the industry to get ready for a new beginning”, added Miky.
The Hermosillo and Caborca regions are located in strategic agricultural areas in Mexico where fertile soil and ideal temperatures make them some of the world’s best tasting fruits and vegetables.
The varieties MAS Melons & Grapes markets are Perlette, Flame, Sugraone, Black Seedless and Red Globe, and this season the company has started to evaluate the agronomic performance of new green and red varieties aimed at being commercially available for the 2018 season.
“Currently, few premium varieties from the SNFL Group in Spain are being tested in the field, and our company has already allocated some acreage to commercially produce them next season”, said Miky.
According to MAS Melons & Grapes, this year the quality of the fruit is looking very promising as it shows a good uniformity of the bunch structure and berry size, and, if appropriate conditions remain, the season outcome should be outstanding.
“Although our table grapes are both Global Gap and SCS Global Systems certified, our commitment to the safety of our fruits and vegetables goes far beyond any standard third party certification audit; everyone at MAS Melons & Grapes is accountable for delivering nothing but the safest products to our customers”, said Miky.
Asia and New Zealand key export markets
“In addition to the United States and Canada, which are our main markets, this year our company is planning to export to New Zealand, Japan, and if quality and volume conditions remain as expected, to the south of Asia, like Malaysia and Singapore, and at a lower proportion, to England and Panama”, added Miky.
Visit Mas Melons at booth #210 at the Viva Fresh Expo.
For more information:
Mikee Suarez
Mas Melons & Grapes
Tel: (520) 377-2372