The Mexican table grape season is pretty much finished, and attention has quickly shifted to California, where growers are preparing for one of the earliest harvests in recent years.
Mirabella Farms reports California vineyards are running approximately 14 to 16 days ahead of last season. The harvest in the Arvin district got underway the last week of June. Most grower-shippers throughout the San Joaquin Valley were harvesting by the final week of June.
Industry estimates currently place the California table grape crop at approximately 96 million boxes. Early indications point to a strong season, with excellent fruit quality and favorable growing conditions throughout the region.
Looking further ahead, weather remains the largest variable for the latter part of the season. Growers are closely monitoring forecasts associated with a potential El Niño weather pattern, which could influence grape-producing regions throughout California and South America.