Shipping continuously for 12 months a year is a commercial goal for most fresh produce companies, and Divine Flavor is going after it. The firm is currently working toward uninterrupted grape supplies and betting on new varieties to reshape its 18 million-box offering.
At the 2026 Global Produce & Floral Show, Michael DuPuis, who oversees Divine Flavor’s public relations and quality assurance, sat with FreshFruitPortal.com to discuss varietal change, retailer expectations, and the value of bringing growers closer to their end markets.
Image by Divine Flavor
We've been doing the Growers Summit since 2018, and the whole point of it from the very get-go was to bring our grower community together; that’s suppliers, agrochemical companies, box or bag suppliers, anyone involved within the Divine Flavor supply chain.
The first one was in Culiacán, and each year has a different theme, such as organic practices or food safety.
This year, in Orlando, the focus was more on retail: understanding the marketplace, what retailers need, and how we can put growers on a path to success.
We visited Costco, Publix, and a Sprouts distribution center.
Our growers don't usually get to go to the stores that often, so having them go to the Sprouts facility was a really good, insightful visit for them to get an idea of what's happening.
They got a sneak peek of what's trending in those specific markets. We also had retailers and consultants with retail experience join us, helping explain changing expectations and what matters to customers.
I think it is a little of both. Newer varieties are taking over from traditional ones because they are driven by flavor and focused on consumers.
Image by Divine Flavor
When someone goes to the store and has an experience with table grapes, you want them to have that same exact experience every single time. That's what's driving repeat purchases, and we're noticing that with varieties like Autumncrisp, Cotton Candy, our Jelly Berries, our Gummy Berries, Candy Hearts, and any of the specialty varieties.
Right now, the table grape industry is developing varieties that have a great eating experience, maintain shelf life, and can be grown sustainably. They grow at the right times under the right conditions.
We're at a point now where we're going to start seeing a lot more new varieties overtaking traditional varieties that have been around for 10 or 15 years or longer. The consumer experience is a major part of that transition.
We are close to 18 million boxes year-round, with Mexico, Peru, and Chile as particularly important [suppliers], alongside smaller volumes from Brazil and South Africa.
There are still some gaps when seasons start or finish earlier than expected. We want to close those gaps so retail partners can have Divine Flavor grapes throughout the year. We expect additional sourcing regions to support that goal.
Our current portfolio is solid: Roma and grape tomatoes, mini peppers, bell peppers, and cucumbers. These are staple items.
Image by Sun World
Retailers are looking for convenience: If they can stay with the same brand and supplier year-round, we make their jobs easier. Mexico offers that possibility for US and Canadian customers.
There is innovation in tomatoes and products such as seedless mini peppers, where we are still getting our feet wet. Our central priorities remain consistency, year-round availability, flavor, and quality.
Written by Tom Azzopardi | Reported by Ed Vernon in Orlando, Florida
*Main image by Ed Vernon. Other images courtesy of Divine Flavor unless otherwise stated.
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