Rio Rico, Ariz.-based Fresh Farms launched a table grape program out of the Mexican state of Jalisco in April that Jerry Havel, director of sales and marketing, says is “a big game changer.”
The Molina family, whose grapes are marketed by Fresh Farms, now grows green grapes about 900 miles south of its main growing area in Sonora, Havel says.
That means the grower will be able to harvest grapes starting in late March -- about a month earlier than usual -- and offer fresh green grapes that compete with late-season green varieties out of Chile.
“This is going to extend our Mexican grape season from two months to three months,” Havel says.
The Jalisco program started out with light volume of Prime seedless, Ivory and Cotton Candy varieties this year. Next year, the company expects to have 250,000 boxes from Jalisco with 500,000 boxes the year after that.
“By 2020, we think we'll have a million boxes,” Havel says.
The family plans to develop 1,250 acres over next three years, and there's room for expansion if the program goes well.
The Jalisco deal will increase the Molinas' volume out of Mexico by as much as 30%.
Fresh Farms will continue its Sonora program as usual each year when Jalisco winds down in early May.
The Molinas also have bought more land in Delano, Calif.
The new program didn't happen overnight.
“The Molinas have been looking for property and testing in Jalisco for over 10 years,” Havel says. “They've been looking for the right piece of property that has the right amount of water available, the right climate and the right environment to grow grapes in Mexico.”
With grapes from Jalisco, Sonora and California, the company will have grapes from late March until December.