BAKERSFIELD, CA - California is not just the home of the “salad bowl,” as Anthony Vineyard’s Rob Spinelli recently reminded me—it also offers the entire fruit basket.

“California offers retailers multiple opportunities for promotions during our long grape season compared to imported product,” he shared as we dug into what differentiates the Golden State ag scene, particularly in table grapes. “We’ve made huge strides in the acreage of new varieties over the last five to 10 years, creating changes in our industry when it comes to the overall season, storage times, and most of all the quality level of California grapes.”

Another key aspect of improvement has been sustainability. Anthony Vineyards, for example, not only offers a variety of pack options implemented on-site but has put significant steps in place for more sustainable offerings both in the field and for the final product.

Likewise, growers have successfully shrunk time in storage by a significant margin, providing the freshest fruit possible to a waiting audience.

Anthony Vineyards specifically has built up infrastructure, with new implementations to ensure high-quality grapes all the way through that prolonged season. Yet, as someone born and raised in this sought-after state, I know such bounty comes at a cost—quite literally.

“California offers more variety and a longer window to supply and keep customers sure of having grapes on the shelves. But the fresh advantages of our location is also the catch,” Rob observed.

California is the salad bowl and the fruit basket. Yet it is also one of the most expensive places to live and grow, a critical factor to keep in mind as our industry and the consumers we serve continue to count the region as such a critical source not just for grapes, but many fresh categories.

“Because we are local, many think it makes more sense to pay more for imported product when, in fact, we need to raise pricing due to the increased cost of input, labor, and water. The overall cost of production cannot be forgotten,” Rob pointed out. “The ease of availability does not compromise on the quality, yet much of the time prices acceptable from imports are not considered acceptable from local product.”

From the benefits of less mileage in the cold chain to the immediate responsiveness you can expect from California grape growers like Anthony Vineyards, there are many factors that set the value of this critical contributor to our industry.

“The communication process and execution is smoother and easier with California growers, with a high level of transparency and understanding when doing business. We bring so much value but at a high cost because of what it takes to grow here. It is something important to keep in mind when it comes to how much consumers all over are willing to pay for fruit from California,” Rob concluded.

As we continue to follow all the key categories impacting fresh produce, AndNowUKnow will ensure you have the latest within reach.