This August saw California’s table grape season hit full stride in the San Joaquin valley, the state’s main producing region. Expert opinion says fruit quality continues to be outstanding, while the timing of the season remains close to historical norms. Suffice it to say the 2012 deal is shaping up to be very different to the one a year ago.
“We’ve seen some of the best growing conditions in the San Joaquin valley ever,” said Brian Crettol of Jasmine Vineyards. “The weather has been just about perfect from late winter through to mid-summer and you can see the results in the quality of the fruit the industry is picking. We actually had to make only one pass for picking in the vineyards for Flames – they were that good.”
Shawn Caldwell of Columbine Vineyards agreed. “The quality of the table grapes we’ve had up to now has been really solid. We’re picking 80-90 per cent of the reds on our first pass when you typically get around 60 per cent. As for timing of the deal, we are way ahead of last year’s pace.”
According to Caldwell, the 2011 season was so delayed by cool weather that Columbine didn’t begin picking Thompson Seedless until the first week of August. “We’ll be finished with our Thompsons by mid-August this year.”
That is good news for Asian markets, which have suffered through two California seasons characterised by abnormally late harvests, as well as some spotty fruit quality.
“There has been virtually no repeat of the mildew problems the industry saw last year,” said Nick Dulcich of Sunlight International Sales. “And we’re back to normal seasonal timing again – maybe even ahead of historical norms – since we’ve shipped 85,000 cartons of Red Globes as of the first week in August.”
With the Moon Festival falling in late September this year, there should be ample time for US exporters to supply Chinese markets with a wide variety of California table grapes, not only the prized Red Globe, but also some of the popular late summer seedless varieties such as Scarlet Royal and Autumn Royal.
In mid-July the California Table Grape Commission issued its annual mid-summer production update, estimating 100.8m 8.6kg packed cartons for the 2012 season. If that forecast holds, it would be a record for the California industry.
Many industry experts are quick to point out that, with two to three months left in the California table grape harvest, there is still plenty of time for weather events such as a late summer heat wave or an early fall rain. Indeed, temperatures in the San Joaquin valley averaged well over 40ºC for six straight days during mid-August.
Others are not convinced that 2012 will see a record crop from California. “I just don’t believe that this is a 100m-carton crop,” stated one California exporter who prefers not be identified. “This current heat wave is bound to knock back yields somewhat and I’m seeing some of the Red Globes having trouble reaching proper maturity. I also think this Globe deal is on the short side this year. The Moon Festival and demand from Central and South America could clean up the Red Globes early this year and set off a mad scramble in Asia for product by October.'
Dulcich agreed there was still a long way to go and anything could happen. “But, as a grower, I have to say I’m cautiously optimistic.”
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