US grape marketers are anticipating a smooth transition between Northern and Southern Hemisphere supplies, with an earlier-than-usual start to the California harvest being offset by an early finish to Chilean deal.
Growers in the Coachella Valley said the mild winter meant harvesting of early season varieties would get underway up to a week early at the end of April / beginning of May.
With harvesting in Chile’s main producing areas also running 10-14 days ahead of schedule due to the effects of last September’s freeze, there is unlikely to be much overlap between Chilean and Californian volumes.
Juan Carolus Brown, vice president of producer association Fedefruta whose farms are located in the V Region, said both Flame and Superior were ready around 10 days early and averaging smaller calibres than normal. The harvesting window had shrunk for three weeks to ten days, he added.
“To sum up how strange this season has been I would say that, even though the Thompson variety was also ready in advance, its harvest window has been relatively normal,” he said. “The Crimson variety came in a few days early, but gave us enough time to work it and I would say the same thing for Red Globe. Last year this variety really got going on 18 march while this season it was ready around two weeks ahead of schedule.”
Speaking to Andnowyouknow, Rob Spinelli of Anthony Vineyards said he expected the early Coachella and Mexican Crimson harvest would bring an early end to Chilean shipments.
“On green grapes it should be an easy transition from Chile to Coachella and Mexico, as Chile typically finishes in early- to mid-April and Mexico will start on Perlettes in late April this year, with Coachella starting on Sugraones in early May,” he said.
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