California grape shipments should be similar to a year ago despite acreage facing a small decline…..Looking down the road a piece, New Jersey produce shipments should be good if favorable weather continues.
Table grape acreage accounted for 123,000 of California’s 2016 total grape acreage of 897,000 acres, or about 13.7 percent of the total, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture-U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual survey on grape acreage.
Total grape acres were down 2.3 percent from 918,000 in 2015, according to the report, released April 20.
Table grape acreage was down 0.8% from the 124,000 reported in 2015, but it was 2,000 more acres or about 1.7% more than 2014.
Leading varieties, and their acreage in 2016 (and 2015), were:
- Flame seedless, 15,499 acres in 2016 (16,530);
- Crimson seedless, 9,387 acres in 2016 (10,564);
- Red globes, 7,923 acres in 2016 (9,644);
- Scarlett Royal, 7,254 acres in 2016 (6,706);
- Sugraone, 5,069 acres in 2016 (5,108);
- Autumn King, 6,111 acres in 2016 (5,386);
- Autumn Royal, 4,453 acres in 2016 (4,548);
- Cotton Candy, 406 acres in 2016 (54); and
- Sweet Globe, 245 acres in 2016 (78).
Acreage of raisin-type grapes totaled 172,000 in 2016, or 7.5 percent lower than 2015’s total of 186,000 acres.
The wine-type grape acreage is estimated at 602,000 acres, with 560,000 bearing and 42,000 non-bearing.
The CDFA works with the Pacific Regional Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service on the annual voluntary acreage survey.
New Jersey Produce Shipments
Everything has lined up about as well as it could have so far this year, as the Garden State has had some nice warm weather. This has resulted in produce crops general being ahead of schedule as the growing season progresses. Growers are “knocking on wood” and keeping fingers crossed regarding the weather.
In only a few weeks there will be shipments of Jersey peaches and Jersey blueberries, two of the states leading produce items. Crops at this point are described as beautiful.”
New Jersey Asparagus cutting has been occurring at a fast and steady clip, leafy greens also are being harvested and shipped. There also are greenhouse tomatoes being harvested, as well as a few strawberries.