U.S. table grape imports for 2023-24 are forecast to rise slightly to 760,000 tons, assuming normal Panama Canal shipping volumes.
The increasing frequency of El Niño and La Niña events is undeniably impacting grape production globally, introducing unpredictability into growing conditions.
Peru has been on a strong growth streak, with an average increase of 20% over the past three seasons in the north.
Despite a 5% reduction in global exports during the 2022-23 season, numerous countries are strategically adjusting their production methods to meet market demand and optimize operational efficiency.
The California Table Grape Commission has unveiled the impact of Hurricane Hilary on the state's grape crop, estimating an initial loss of 25 million boxes, each weighing 8.6 kilograms.
The vestiges of Tropical Storm Hilary, previously classified as a Category 4 hurricane when it was raking across the Pacific before crashing ashore in Mexico, brought record-breaking rainfall to Southern California.
Similar to Mexico and Coachella, Central California is experiencing a delay of approximately 10-14 days in its harvest.
The drop can be attributed to multiple factors, including a decrease in the area dedicated to table grape cultivation and unfavorable climatic conditions in the central region of the country, which have adversely affected yields.
Data reveals that a staggering 16 million 18-pound boxes have been shipped thus far, denoting an impressive year-on-year increase of nearly 40% compared to the 11.5 million boxes exported in the previous season of 2021-22.
Incoming volumes this season culminated at 37.1 K tons, a 24% decline compared to the highest volume of 48.6 K tons recorded in the 2021/22 season.