With sales continuing to trickle through, California’s table grape industry is set to pass the 100m carton mark for the third successive season, according to media reports.
Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission, said the industry would sell close to 106m cartons across the 2014/15 season, down on last season’s record 116m carton packout but still the second largest crop on record.
“We are still shipping from California, and expect to be shipping into the middle of January,” Nave told Capital Press. “Prices have been very good. Overall quality has been very good and of course prices typically reflect that. Prices were particularly strong in the fall.”
Sean Stockton, president of Sundale Sales, said the strong prices helped cover for the drop in volume, largely caused by a severe drought hampering growers across California.
“As a whole, the overall average price was a little higher than last year, which makes economic sense — with yields being down, the prices would be higher,” Stockton told Capital Press. “The biggest thing that concerns California farmers right now is water, and the increased price of labour. Table grapes are one of the most expensive crops to grow.”
