DELANO, CA - With the arrival of the California table grape season comes premium category promotions, merchandising opportunities, and impulse purchases—all significant reasons why retailers look to the coveted category each year. Kicking off as we speak, growers across the Golden State are launching into harvest as demand heats up, including Jack Campbell, a long-term table grape grower/shipper in California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV).

“Leading up to harvest, the growing conditions have been favorable. As the fall season grapes continue to mature, we will keep a close eye, “Jack notes. “For a variety of reasons out of our control, the spring grapes were lighter in supply for this season. This has created very little overlap between areas as we ramp up the San Joaquin Valley season. The early momentum has been well-received so far, and we are looking forward to a successful season.”

Jack is currently harvesting Flames, Sugraone, Krissy, Ivory, and Candy varieties from Snaps and Dreams to Hearts. Also, Jack will begin harvesting his operation’s proprietary green grape variety Pristine^®. The variety will come on in the middle of August, with availability running through December.

“We just finished harvesting in Mexico and Coachella and have transitioned north to the San Joaquin Valley for the remainder of the season. This season, we are packing grapes in pouch bags and clamshells of all sizes. Our additional in-house Top Seal machine gives retailers more options for their go-to-market strategy,” Jack says.

Typically, the California table grape season runs through December for Jack and, as he shares, every year is different with Mother Nature playing the key a role in how long the season will last. In other words, stay tuned!

With the season upon us, keep checking back with AndNowUKnow for more information on the opportunities and varieties that are rocking produce departments across the table grape category.