It has been just over a month now since table grapes destined for North America began shipping from Peru's Ica region. After a delay due to rain, exporters are now playing catch up. According to them, shipments of grapes from northern Peru are about to wrap up for the year as production begins to focus on the more southerly regions of the country.
"Up to week 51, Peru had shipped 25M cartons of table grapes," shared Dirk Winkelmann of Vanguard International. "Northern Peru (Piura and Lambayeque) will continue to ship through January, though mostly Red Globes to Asia. Northern Peru experienced some light rains from week 47 but nothing heavy and is only seeing some slight condition issues. The harvest in Ica, Peru has been delayed by 2 weeks and year-to-date shipments from Ica are close to 6M cartons which is 15 percent below last season, the reduction of which is due to the delayed start. Total volume from Ica is expected to be 20 to 22M cartons."
For Vanguard International Group, it's an exciting start to the season as the company has opened a new packhouse in Ica and is looking to have an extended season. "Vanguard Challapampa Peru's grape harvest, packing and shipping began December 17, 2018 from their new best-in-class packhouse in Ica, Peru," Winkelmann added. "Through a strategic selection of early, mid and late season IP varieties as well as timed pruning practices, we have carefully managed our ranches to provide a longer window of supply. We plan to extend our season to be present in the market through Mid-April to provide Vanguard Challapampa’s basket of premium table grapes for the entire import season."
Market improving as brisk movement overtakes slow start
The start of the Peruvian deal in North America was not ideal, with an abundance of California grapes still in the pipeline when shipments from South America typically start. Once California fruit cleared, exporters reported much better movement in the New Year. Additionally, a number of export markets away from North America are increasing their purchases of Peruvian table grapes.
"Southeast Asia has been concentrating on South Africa and Australia for their Southern Hemisphere fruit," Vanguard's CEO Crag Stauffer explained. "Many markets globally are expressing interest in our premium varieties. China has purchased 40 percent more than last season to date. Korea has purchased 33 percent more season to date with an initial focus on Chile. North American retailers are transitioning from California grapes to Peru import programs. Movement into North America has been brisk as Peru and Chile are moving to meet transitional demand."
"Red Globes historically have led the volume from Peru shipping 8M boxes year to date," added Winkelmann. "There is increased interest in the exciting new seedless varieties and Vanguard Challapampa have put together programs into North America, Mexico, and Asia with Sweet Sapphires™, Sweet Globes™, and Sugar Crisp™."
Winkelmann also shared that Vanguard are introducing no less than seven new varieties this season into the North American market. "For this season, Vanguard Challapampa and Vanguard Direct are introducing seven new premium varieties of red, green and black grapes including Sweet Celebration™, Jack’s Salute™, Ivory™, Sweet Globe™, Sugar Crisp™, Sweet Favor™, and Sweet Sapphire™, with this year’s shipment volume more than doubling last years."
New packhouse a step up
With the new Ica packhouse, Vanguard said they have not only increased capacity, but can also offer new packaging styles and improved environmental controls. Stauffer shared that the packhouse has a temperature controlled packing area along with rapid pre-cool tunnels. It is also located at a convenient distance to both the ranches as well as the port.
"With the tremendous capacity in our new Ica packhouse we can offer branded and clear bags, clamshell packs, and custom packs to our valued customers globally," he said. "The rapid pre-cool tunnels reduce stem dehydration and extend product shelf-life ensuring optimal final delivery quality and condition to our customers around the world. Additionally the location of the packhouse is ideally suited to all our ranches with no given ranch further than 10 minutes delivery, plus situated on the Pan American to reduce trucking time to the Port of Callao, Lima, Peru. We have put together the necessary elements of the entire supply chain, including production, packing, quality control, logistics, shipping, and marketing to provide a fully-integrated supply chain solution for our customers.
New varieties and company ethos
Despite launching seven new grape varieties this season, Vanguard Challapampa are not content to sit idle, with the company planting a host of new grape varieties that will come online in the next couple of years. Stauffer said these varieties include Autumn Crisp® , Midnight Beauty® , Adora®, Icon Firestar®, Allison®, and Candy Hearts®. "We also continue to assess new varieties being developed for future plantings," he added. "Our focus as always is on providing the best in class portfolio of great tasting grapes."
Dirk Winkelmann also pointed out the company's ethos when it comes to sustainability, environmental management and the way they look after their employees. According to him, Vanguard make sure that their water assets are well managed and that employees have access to meals and medical facilities provided by Vanguard, both at their ranches and also the packhouse.
"Vanguard Challapampa is very proud of our sustainability, quality, food safety, and technology programs," Winkelmann concluded. "All of our wells are documented and audited and we carefully manage our water assets. On our ranches we provide daily bus transportation for ranch employees and also provide meals for permanent staff. We provide on-site medical assistance and/or emergency transportation when needed. At our packhouse in Ica we have a professionally staffed nursing station and medical station as well as restaurant grade kitchens to provide meals for our pack house employees. There is also a training center for ongoing development and training of packhouse employees."
