Sun World's 2025 field day event spotlights late season variety innovation

Global fruit breeder, licensor, and marketer Sun World International opened the doors of its Center for Innovation in Wasco, California, to more than 300 industry leaders from across the world for its August 2025 Field Day event. 

The gathering provided partners a clear view of the company's latest advancements and emphasized a shift reshaping the category.

Sun World's elevated standard to meet consumer demand 

A key highlight of the event was Sun World’s late-season program, one of the industry’s biggest untapped opportunities, where attendees sampled new selections of table grapes bred for durability, crunch, and longer shelf life, engineered to perform consistently even under late-season weather pressure.

For growers, the priority is performance. Varieties must not only appeal to consumers but also deliver in the vineyard.

Sun World highlighted how its latest breeding advancements are designed to lower inputs and production costs, pesticide applications, and adapt to unpredictable climate conditions. These efficiencies free up labor, improve vineyard sustainability, and create more reliable yields.

“When our global partners are in the vineyard, tasting new selections and discussing climate challenges, they’re not just seeing what’s coming next season, they’re seeing what’s coming in the next decade,” said Bernardo Calvo, President and CEO of Sun World International. 

A conversation about the future of table grapes

The event also spotlighted how Sun World is harnessing AI and genetic analysis to accelerate the decade-long journey from seedling to shelf. DNA indicators now guide breeders toward desired traits—such as berry size, vine strength, and post-harvest performance—with greater precision, shortening timelines and improving predictability.

As the day concluded, Sun World reinforced its global leadership role in shaping the future of table grapes, with a diversified portfolio spanning both early- and late-season varieties to ensure profitable, year-round supply.

“Our job is to anticipate where the market is going—from climate shifts to consumer tastes—and to give growers the genetics, insights, and confidence to thrive,” added Calvo. “That’s what makes these field events so powerful: they bring our entire network into the conversation about the future.”

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