Grape loadings from the California desert kick off domestic shipments each year and once again it will begin from the Coachella Valley.
California table grape growers shipped 91.5 million 19-pound boxes to 56 markets worldwide in 2024, according to the Fresno-based California Table Grape Commission.
Though the first estimate for this year’s crop won’t be taken until late April, growers report another robust harvest. Coachella typically wraps up in late June or early July when the vast majority of shipments for the season will start coming out the San Joaquin Valley by mid-July.
Tudor Ranch in Mecca, CA., expects to start shipping grapes no later than May 12.
Two red varieties, Karizma and flame, launch the season. Other varieties from Tudor Ranch include sugraone; valley pearl, which is a large, round grape; black seedless varieties; and Timco, which starts midseason and continues until the season ends around July 10.
The company also will add the red seedless Torch variety this season and has planted an early green grape called ARRA Honey Pop, which should debut next year.
Fruitful of McFarland, CA will start its table grape seaspm in July and predicts a heavy crop, which will be larger than last year.
The company grows around 10 varieties, which include flame, sugraone, Ivory, Scarlet Royal, Sweet Globe, Autumn King and Allison.
Flame, the first variety to be harvested.
Tudor Ranch sees plenty of Coachella grape volume being available for Memorial Day.