The Californian table grape industry is poised with a record-breaking crop, with more than 28m cartons packed so far this season.
This year-to-date total is 10 per cent ahead of last season, which ended with a volume in excess of 100m cartons for the first time in industry history. The month of August has yielded exceptionally high volumes, with week-ending totals surpassing 4m cartons for the past three weeks.
“The crop is moving at what could be record setting pace,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the Californian Table Grape Industry.
The Californian season started in May and runs to January 2014. Nave said 60 per cent of this season’s crop would be packed after 31 August.
Exports will continue to play an important role for the industry, with over 40 per cent of this year’s crop expected to be sold outside the US.
