Mild spring weather and heavy cluster counts set the stage for early Coachella picks in May and a seamless handoff to San Joaquin vineyards by mid‑summer, promising promotable California grapes all season long
California’s 2025 table‑grape season is poised to start early and in volume, with growers in both the Coachella and San Joaquin valleys reporting heavy cluster counts and steady spring weather that should translate into another robust crop once the harvest begins next month.
Last year the state shipped 91.5 million 19‑pound boxes to 56 export markets, and industry leaders say the 2025 total could match or exceed that benchmark.
Field assessments that normally guide the official crop estimate will not be completed until late April, but growers contacted this week described canopies loaded with fruit and a bloom period that benefited from mild, consistent temperatures.
Picking will begin in early May in the Coachella Valley, where Mecca‑based Tudor Ranch expects to load its first boxes no later than May 12.
Company president Joe Tudor said two red seedless varieties Karizma and Flame will open the season, followed by Sugraone, Valley Pearl, black seedless selections and the mid‑season Timco.
Tudor added that a new red seedless grape, Torch, will debut this year, and an early green cultivar called ARRA Honey Pop is already in the ground for a 2026 introduction.
Richard Solorio, president of McFarland‑based Fruitful, said his firm will begin packing in July and is bracing for a heavier crop than 2024.
The California season traditionally shifts from Coachella to the San Joaquin Valley by mid‑July, but growers suggest the overlap could be tighter if warm weather persists.
An earlier change‑over would let retailers build uninterrupted displays of domestic fruit and shorten the gap between early red seedless and high‑brix green varieties such as Sweet Globe and Autumn King.
Although harvest timing captures most headlines, marketers also emphasize varietal innovation.
Fruitful’s expansion into Ivory and Allison reflects a broader statewide push toward proprietary grapes with higher yield potential and longer shelf life.
Tudor Ranch’s Torch and Honey Pop plantings signal similar diversification, and breeders working with the ARRA and IFG programs report continued interest from growers looking to differentiate their late‑season lineups.
Quality expectations are high.
Tudor said Coachella bunches have sized uniformly thanks to stable spring temperatures, while San Joaquin growers report limited evidence of shatter or uneven berry developmentissues that occasionally follow cool, wet bloom periods.
Consistent fruit set should support promotable volumes for key holidays, including Memorial Day and Independence Day in the desert district, and Labor Day once San Joaquin production peaks.
Retail programs are already taking shape.
Fruitful plans to pack a portion of its crop under the “Eat Healthy” label, offering participating supermarkets point‑of‑sale graphics that position grapes as a naturally sweet, portable snack.
Commission staff will complement those efforts with consumer advertising that highlights California origin, nutritional benefits and recipe versatility.
Logistically, exporters are watching Panama Canal restrictions and Red Sea shipping disruptions but say grapes’ relatively short transit window favors continued diversification into nearby Pacific Rim destinations.
Asia accounted for nearly a third of California’s 2024 table‑grape exports, and commission market‑access specialists expect that share to rise if the crop tops 90 million boxes again.
