California’s table grape harvest kicked off nearly three weeks ahead of a normal year, following an early spring warm-up, and shippers have held that faster pace all season. Volumes are tracking close to industry expectations, though July’s heat put stress on some of the more delicate and heirloom varieties. With the market window ahead of Thanksgiving now tighter than usual, growers expect green varieties to wind down before reds as fall demand builds.

Ian LeMay, president of the California Table Grape Commission, says, “As summer winds down, grapes from California remain in season, in demand and available to continue being included in retail promotions as they delight consumers throughout the U.S. and export markets headed into the fall and early winter seasons.”

An early bloom and a midseason heat spike within the same year is a combination most grape growers know well, and this season was no exception. Strong retail demand and careful field management are helping growers close out the season on solid footing despite the compressed timeline.

Read the full report in The Packer.