Posts Tagged “Chilean table grapes”
This is a transitional season for Chilean fruit as items such as peaches and nectarines are wrapping up, while others such as kiwifruit will soon be ramping up.
However, for the time being Chilean table grapes remain the focus of fruit imports from this South American country. Strong volumes of Chilean table grapes will continue arriving at American ports through April. Over 26 million cases of Chilean grapes were shipped to the United States through March 17th.
There have been heavy arrivals, although overall volume is now starting to slowly decrease. There are the more traditional varieties such as Crimsons, Flames and Thompson Seedless. However, there is increasing volumes of proprietary and newer varieties like Timco, Sweet Celebration and Jack’s Salute.
While peach and nectarine volumes are in a seasonal decline, there were still strong volumes of plums shipped in mid-March from Chilean ports, resulting in good volumes arriving at U.S. ports well into April.
While Chilean kiwifruit have been exported to the U.S. for many years, volume is now to the point where the Chilean Kiwifruit Committee plans marketing campaign for the first time in the United States.
Chilean kiwi exports begin in April with good volume occurring at U.S. ports by late May.
Unfavorable Chilean weather has resulted in arrivals of grapes being well behind a year ago, while favorable weather has increased arrivals of mangoes from Peru and Ecuador.
Chilean table grape arrivals on the East Coast have been well below the year-to-date arrivals from a year ago, which had itself suffered from a short supply of early season grapes. Usually, there are late domestic supplies from California and Peruvian product to lessen demand for light volume early arrivals from Chile. However, California wrapped up shipments early this season and Peruvian seedless grape inventory on the US East Coast is depleted.
Imported Chilean table grape arrivals on the East Coast will be nearly 50 percent lower than last year through the same date. This has resulted in only 2.6 million cases of Chilean table grapes arriving the first two weeks of the season. More steady arrivals and heavier volume will occur in February.
Mango Imports
Both Peru and Ecuador are shipping higher volumes of mangoes than projected due to favorable weather conditions. Peak mango shipments (imports) from Peru mangoes will continue arriving at U.S. ports though January.
Mangos are available in the US year-round and imported from four other countries besides Peru and Ecuador:
- Mexico has the largest mango season, starting at the end of January and continuing through September.
- Guatemala’s season starts in March and extends until May, sometimes early June.
- Haiti supplies mangos from April until July.
- Brazil’s season lasts from August through November.