The Mexican table grape industry in Sonora is forecast to export 16.5m (8.62kg) cartons to the US market during the 2012 season, an 11 per cent increase against last year.
Flame Seedless will remain the primary variety exported to the US, with an estimated volume of 8.3m cartons, which is 14 per cent above 2011 levels, according to a release from the Sonora table grape industry.
Sugraone will follow with 3.8m cartons, up 26 per cent, and Perlette at 2.4m cartons, up 12 per cent.
Red Globe production is expected to be relatively flat at approximately 825,000 cartons.
The US import industry agrees with the grape export estimates released from Mexico.
John Pandol of Pandol Brothers told Americafruit that normal blooming has resumed this year following the weather problems, largely frosts, over the last few seasons.
Mexican grapes have already started entering the US market and as much as 50 per cent of the crop is likely to cross the border between 25 May and 15 June.
The full report will be published in the June/July issue of Americafruit.
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