“Replanting is a two- to three-year process, and over the next five years there will be more,” predicts Corsaro-Dorsey, which will affect output until the newer vines are fully productive. She’s certain there will be a significant drop “in older varieties and bigger spike in proprietary” grapes going forward.
Gruszka is excited about Sunview’s in-house breeding program and the continued “development of new varieties to improve consumers’ eating experience. The process takes significant time and investment, but the investment is well worth it.”
Olsen highlights the industry’s astounding production capacity the past three years. “To move that record speaks volumes,” he states, in not only quality and available varieties, but how well California’s grapes have been received by consumers.
FRESH FORUM
What new varieties are you particularly excited about?Mimi Corsaro-Dorsey, Giumarra Vineyards Corporation
The ARRA varieties like the Passion Fire, Mystic Dream, and Passion Punch.Louie Galvan, Fruit Royale, Inc.
The Sheehan Genetics varieties are showing great promise!Jeff Olsen, Chuck Olsen Company
There are so many new ones! We’re really strengthening our category with many different varieties. I don’t even know them all myself—more keep popping up. We’re just putting all our muscle into producing a solid piece of fruit.Peter Vallis, EG Enterprises
There are a couple we’re excited about because they do taste better. As an industry, we need to focus on making grapes taste good—that’s why people like to eat grapes—and that speaks volumes.Derrick Daniell, Double D Sales Company, Inc.
A new variety we’re working with is Krissy—an early to mid-season red with great characteristics for export—mainly a round, oval variety with good production and a great flavor profile.Jon Zaninovich, Jasmine Vineyards
We have one called Summer Crunch, an early white variety; a mid-season white variety called Sweet Globe; and I love a red grape called Sweet Celebration.
Phil Gruszka, Sunview Marketing International
We have three proprietary varieties that have been in the market for a couple of years and have been growing in popularity. Stella Bella is an incredibly sweet, green seedless grape that is elongated and large in size; it’s available from approximately mid-July through mid-October. We are also excited about Gem, a seedless red grape available from mid-August through November, and Rosa, a seedless red grape.
“It’s no longer just Thompson and Flame Seedless; we have different reds and greens appealing to both the eye and the taste buds,” enthuses Olsen. “When you have that combination, product flies off the shelf.” He believes the growth will continue.
