Much like the conventional crop of table grapes from California, the organic crop is also a strong one. "It's been a really good grape year so far," says Rick Kilby of Earl's Organic Produce. "Our supply has been on time and with great quality. The mild summer has been the perfect weather for grapes."
That mild summer includes seeing steadier temperatures and avoiding the heat spikes of the past. "We've also not had any unseasonal storms–in the years past, we've seen some summer storms come in and wipe out whole blocks of grapes," says Kilby.
While some growers reported that they started their season slightly earlier this year, Bakersfield–the heart of table grape growing in California–saw a later start by about a week. That said, with good growing conditions, sizing is good on organic table grapes with increased yields this year.
© Earl's Organic
L: CJ Buxman of Sunny Cal Farms, whose grapes are distributed through Earl's Organic; R: an example of alternative grape packaging.
Specialty varieties continue to gain traction
As for demand, it is steady. Kilby notes that organic specialty varieties continue to be popular with consumers, including varieties such as Thomcord, Autumncrisp, and also proprietary varieties such as Red Sparkle, which is a red grape, and the green Stella Bella grape variety, both from Sunview Vineyards
Something else buyers are also increasingly interested in is different pack styles. While grocery stores often sell grapes in plastic bags, Kilby has seen a shift away from that and towards more sustainable alternatives to plastic, such as paper tote bags, as well as bulk grapes. "We have a grower that will pack a loose 19 lb. bulk pack, and that's where we're seeing movement grow. It's part of an overall shift in consumer habits," says Kilby.
All of this is leaving pricing pretty steady. "We haven't seen inflation in grapes over last year. Overall, as labor, material costs, etc. go up, there's a slight uptick in overhead, but prices have remained pretty steady over last year," says Kilby. "I think it's going to stay that way."
For more information:
Susan Simitz
Earl's Organic Produce
Tel: +1 (415) 824-7419
[email protected]
https://www.earlsorganic.com/