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	Pamela Riemenschneider
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MEXICAN GRAPE GROUP RECOMMENDS DATES BY VARIETY

Hermosillo, Mexico – April 23, 2008 Sonora grape growers expect to start shipping the first of an estimated 17.2 million boxes around May 11 this year. At the Sonora Spring Grape Summit April 17-18 in Hermosillo, Juan Laborin, director of the Asociacion Agricola Local de Productores Uva de Mesa, said the crop is expected to be slightly less than last year’s 17.7 million boxes. Perlettes, with about 3.1 million boxes total, are expected to start shipping around May 2 with volumes around May 15. Shipments of the region’s main variety, the flame, are expected to start around May 11 with peak volumes arriving May 21, Laborin said. Sugraone grapes are expected to start harvesting around May 21 with peak volumes around June 7. Total volume of sugraone is estimated at 4.9 million boxes. Red globe grapes are expected to start shipping May 31, with volumes around June 22 and a total volume around 900,000 boxes. Other varieties, including black seedless, are expected to total around 600,000 boxes.

Laborin said the association’s estimates from its summit last spring were about 1% off actual volumes so he is optimistic that this year’s estimate also is accurate.

To help make sure volumes are adequate for retail promotions, the association also released dates it recommends for each variety to go on ad, Laborin said.

“We have had years in which there was a lack of communication, so we are providing a date where we estimate volumes will be adequate,” Laborin said.

About 300 growers, Mexican distributors and U.S. buyers attended the summit, which is the second the association has put on.

Last year’s summit drew about 500 people, said Veronica Kraushaar, president of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Viva Marketing Strategies, the association’s promotion agency and organizer of the summit.

The summit started April 17 with tours of three operations, including two ranches and a precooling shed where growers showcased their production techniques, food safety measures and handling technology.

On April 18, attendees heard a panel discussion of the U.S. market by retail and foodservice representatives from Supervalu, Stater Bros. and Sysco Corp., and an overview of the Canadian market by Vito D’Amico, a buyer for Provincial Fruit Co. Ltd., Toronto.

To update growers on the latest efforts in food safety and bioterrorism prevention, William Nganje, a professor at Arizona State University, discussed the need for food safety guidelines and standards for the industry.

Armando Goncalvez, Tuscon, Ariz., field manager for the U.S. Customs and Border Protection also updated growers on the latest news at the Nogales port of entry and introduced its new chief inspector, Tracy Encinas.

Mike Hansen, senior director of produce for Houston-based Sysco, a member of a panel discussion of the U.S. market, said he thought the conference was a good opportunity for Sysco to communicate its food safety initiatives directly to the grower segment of the supply chain.

“Equally important was a better understanding and appreciation of the proactive focus within the Mexican agriculture industry,” he said. “With global sourcing continuing to expand, the exchange of insights into all components of the conduit from grower to consumer, is of vital importance. This venue effectively addressed that priority.”

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