The final loading shipments of South American table grapes have been exported and delivered to the U.S. for grower-shipper, Divine Flavor of Nogales, AZ. A few weeks ago the company turned its attention from Chile to their principal growing regions of Jalisco and Sonora, Mexico.
In recent years, April through May has emerged as a pivotal window for Divine Flavor, with their Jalisco operation kicking off right as the Chilean season concludes with its final shipments. A consistent supply of fresh, high-quality premium varieties—like Autumncrisp, Cotton Candy, and Sweet Globe (all proprietary green seedless grapes)—has played a vital role in supporting a seamless transition for their North American retail partners.
The company notes historically the red seedless would exceed green seedless demand, but slowly that has shifted to a point where in most cases greens now double the demand of reds. Part of this is due to the popularity of the Autumncrisp variety, as well as Sweet Globe, Cotton Candy, among others.
Last April, Mexico Table Grapes Association (AALPUM) announced around 23 million boxes for 2025 (about a 1.3% increase from 2024), and there, it was reported Sonora could see a delay on early-season varieties to start the season, but with volumes picking up in June.
With the early varieties, the Sonoran grape season will see some delays on reds and a smaller crop of Flames than from previous years. But once it approaches the mid-season of harvest, reds will bounce back with better volume, and there will be good volume in June. The company expects to have about an 18% increase from Sonora program.
Divine Flavor finished its last grape shipments from Chile around the end of April (with inventories going into the first weeks of May). Their Jalisco grape program is currently midway through its harvest and will go until the end of May. The company will start its Sonoran grape program with the first organic grapes from Mexico around the middle of May which will go into the end of July.
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