U.S.-based Pandol Bros is expecting a modest 4% year-on-year rise in Californian grape production this season, driven by later season varieties.

VP of sales and marketing Scott Reade tells www.freshfruitportal.com the harvest appears to be on time this year although bloom, which is a better indicator of harvest dates, has not yet occurred in the fields.

"Most of the increases are being driven by the red seedless grapes harvested in September and green seedless grapes harvested in the October-November time frame," he says.

Reade adds that Pandol will be expanding its Sweet Celebration® variety acreage, which is harvested in late August-September as the consumer demand for super-premium grapes continues to grow

"Sweet Celebration has a large round berry size, target of over 20 brix sugar at harvest, and a very crunchy texture. Last season was the first season Pandol had any meaningful volume of this variety.

"In the U.S., some retailers are advertising super-premium grape varieties like Sweet Celebration by name which is generating some brand recognition. Consumers are purchasing these varieties at higher retail price points."

www.freshfruitportal.com