Grapes

Thurs, Sept 14th, 2023

Dear Ole Tyme Produce Customers:

GRAPES- The fields that are still being harvested will be low yielding and expensive to pick. Many bunches are too damaged to recover. Even the bunches that have few to no problems still need to have some individual grapes clipped off here or there before it goes into the bag. These will not be storage grapes. Expect decreased shelf life.

As the damage became more apparent in the days after the storm, most shippers thought they would still have grapes into late November. In most years we would have domestics into December. Currently it is looking like California will run out of grapes by the end of the first week in November. It is very possible that there will be a gap between domestic and imported grapes.

Damage in the grape crop from tropical storm Hillary was severe.
Damage in the Delano – Bakersfield area was more extensive than in the Fresno area.
Prices will continue to rise throughout the month.
Shelf life will be reduced.
California’s season expected to end in early November.
A supply gap between California and South American imports is likely.