California table grape shipments are moving at a fast clip with more than four million boxes sent weekly in the six weeks to Sep. 13, according to United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) statistics.

In a release, the California Table Grape Commission (CTGC) highlighted that a weekly shipment above four million boxes was only recorded once last season.

"With nearly 45 million boxes shipped, the industry is on pace for another record crop year," CTGC president Kathleen Nave said.

"Grapes from California are in strong demand worldwide."

The industry registered a record high for the month of August, rising 6% year-on-year to 18.4 million boxes. The previous record was 18.1 million boxes in August, 2007.

"The total volume surpassed the 100 million 19-pound box equivalent mark for the first time in history last year and set a new record," CTGC said in a release.

The commission expects a total volume of 105.7 million boxes, each weighing an equivalent of 19 pounds, and the fruit will be available through January 2014.

www.freshfruitportal.com