More California grapes head for international markets

Exports of fresh California grapes increased in 2008, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture report.

More than 26 million 19-pound boxes of grapes valued at $430 million left California for international markets, not including Canada. The 2008 export volume is an increase of 19 percent over 2007, in which 22.4 million 19-pound boxes were exported, and an increase of 24 percent in value.

In the past 10 years, exports of fresh California grapes increased 52 percent. The total grape crop harvested last year was more than 94 million boxes.

Record high export volumes were seen in a number of the largest export markets during 2008, including Mexico, Panama, Central America, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Thailand and Australia.

The top three export markets for fresh California grapes in 2008 were Canada, Mexico and China, respectively. Exports to Canada remained relatively stable over 2007, whereas export volume and value to Mexico and China significantly increased in 2008 over the previous season.

To round out the top five, the fourth largest export market was Australia, followed by the fifth largest export market, Central America, which increased in volume by nine percent and value by 14 percent.

Export volume and value both significantly increased, by about 32 percent, over 2007 to Australia, a market that the California Table Grape Commission tried to open for more than 10 years.

Since California grapes gained access to Australia in 2002, the commission has been involved in ongoing negotiations with U.S. and Australian trade officials, improving trade conditions to that country.