Grapes Are in High Demand Everywhere
The month of August has seen
record shipments for grapes from California, posting TODAY week-ending totals of
over 4 million boxes three weeks in a row.
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A Table Grape Worker Packs Grapes in Fresno
County. There was high demand in August. |
“The crop is moving at what
could be a record-setting pace,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the Fresno-based
California Table Grape Commission.
According to USDA data, more
than 28 million boxes of California table grapes have been shipped through
Friday, August 23, 2013. The 2013 year-to-date total is threepercent ahead of
last year, which saw a record-high season total volume that surpassed the 100
million 19-pound box equivalent mark for the first time in history.
Earlier this year, a study
conducted by The NPD Group found that fresh fruit is the top snack food and the
fastest growing snack food in America. The fruit category is continuing to grow
in the U.S. Figures for the 52-week period ending in the middle of July 2013
showed a gain of fruit sales and volume over last year, according to data from FreshLook
Marketing.
“Shoppers are becoming more
health conscious about the food they buy for themselves and their families,”
said Nave. “As one of the top-selling fruit categories, grapes are a good fit
for today’s shopper.”
Grapes from California are
available around the world, with over 40 percent of the crop exported. The 2013
season started in May 2013 and will continue through January 2014. Over 60
percent of the crop is shipped after August 31.
Labels: California Table Grape Commission August 4 million boxes, High Demand, Kathleen Nave, table grapes
