Divine Flavor, a Nogales, Ariz.-based grape grower and shipper, said it will expand its table grape offerings to include grapes from California thanks to a partnership with Niabell Farms in Bakersfield, Calif.
This will be the company’s first branded grape supply from the U.S., and Niabell Farms will begin packing for Divine Flavor in mid-July, according to a news release.
“With our decision to grow grapes in California and partner with Niabell Farms, there is a shared vision to mirror the success seen in our vineyards across Mexico, Peru, and Chile, ensuring our customers can expect exceptional grape varieties throughout the entire year,” Carlos Bon, Divine Flavor’s senior vice president of sales, said in the release.
The grower and shipper said this addition will help bridge the gap between the end of the Mexican table grape season and the start of South American imports, which is essential to its year-round supply.
“Thanks to this joint venture with Naibell Farms, Divine Flavor has found a formal solution of becoming a true year-round supplier in the table grape category,” Bon said. “We have a footprint in the early, mid, and late parts of California with 100% proprietary varieties, focusing on the best flavor and the newer generation of table grapes.”
The company said its current production includes grapes from Grupo Alta vineyards in the Mexican states of Jalisco and Sonora, which harvests from April to July, and it continues its year-round supply with partnerships in Peru, Chile and South Africa that supply table grapes from November to April and May.
“We are ecstatic to begin this business partnership with who we believe is a key player in the table grape category,” said Jon Williams, president and CEO of Niabell Farms. “We know how important flavor and great eating grapes are to this industry and we are happy to be the partners who will help Divine Flavor continue supplying their customers with the best proprietary varieties the industry has to offer.”
Divine Flavor also offered an update to the Sonora season, saying it faced a challenging start with other fruit categories such as cherries, berries, stone fruit late grapes from Chile.
“It’s been a challenging start to the Sonora season, however, we are excited for these next few weeks as this is when Divine Flavor starts harvesting our specialty varieties,” Bon said. “There will be a lot of focus these next few weeks on Sweet Celebration, Sweet Globe, and of course our dessert menu: Cotton Candy, Gummyberries, and Jellyberries.”
The company said it will harvest its late candy varieties until the first weeks of July, right before its California season begins.