The Mexican grape season is expected to kick off this weekend with Perlette the first variety to be harvested, according to the Sonora grape growers association Asociación Agricola Local Productores de Uva de Mesa.

Overall the crop is likely to reach around 17.2 million boxes, slightly down on last season’s 17.2m box crop.

The earliest variety Perlette will account for some 3.1 million cartons of the total, and Flame, the largest volume variety is forecast to reach 7.7m cartons and will begin its harvest around a week later than Perlette. Sugraone is the next variety to come on stream and the first pickings are forecast for the third week in May with volume production likely to be reached by the end of the first week in June. The growers’ association is forecasting a total volume of Sugraone of some 4.9m boxes. Red Globe is expected to pack out under 1m cartons and its harvest is not due to start until late May with volume being achieved by the third week in June.

The association held a summit last month in order to inform buyers of these proposed harvesting dates and likely volume peaks in order to plan promotions. A spokesman said its forecasts proved to be accurate within one per cent last year in terms of volumes so growers are optimistic this season’s figures will prove just as accurate.

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