Even though the season won’t kick off until early July, California growers are already predicting an ample season in organic grape supply.
“The crop this year looks good. The set and quality are good and we expect quite a bit more cases than last year,” says Christine Toy, Grape Category Manager, of Homegrown Organic Farms in Porterville, Ca. “This year we have mature vines and the fruit as it matures gets better and the yields increase.”
The increase in yields in the existing vineyards plus but Homegrown Organic has also added another grower this year as well. “And winter was good for our grapes—lots of water, so good growing conditions,” says Toy.
It’s also part of a bigger picture for Homegrown Organic who’s been planning an incremental growth program over the last five years and will continue that growth for another five years. Overall this season, HGO is predicting to have 20-30 percent more volume.
New varieties coming
Homegrown Organic is focusing on newer varieties in its grape availability this coming season. “In green grapes, we have an Ivory, which is an early green with great size and great flavor. We’re following that up with a Timpson which is another new variety. Then we have a Great Green which is a late-season grape. And finally our Kelly, which is another late-season green grape,” says Toy.
On red grapes, Homegrown Organic will have Timcos available all the way through the season and start with a small amount of Flames as well. Scarlets will also be available and on black grapes, Homegrown Organic will carry Autumn Royal.
The affect on demand
Demand will be interesting this season. “Everybody knows the grape deal is going to be very challenging this year. There’s just a lot of fruit,” says Toy, noting that there have been reports saying that the early season suppliers are stating their crop volume is up around 25 percent this season over last season.
With that in mind, Toy estimates that pricing will come off in the beginning, similar to how it did last year. “We just have to be aware of movement,” says Toy. “Last year the whole entire industry got bullish and we just need to keep the products flowing and moving.”
For more information:
Christine Toy
Homegrown Organic Farms
Tel: +1 (559) 306-1750
christine.toy@hgofarms.com
https://www.hgofarms.com/