Autumn Kings: Widespread Powdery Mildew Challenges

Posted on October 3rd, 2016

California table grape growers are moving through a heavy set of Autumn Kings; the last green seedless variety that will take the industry through the duration of the season.  Overall size and eating quality has been good but many growers in the Central San Joaquin Valley are battling issues with powdery mildew, which could have far reaching consequences as we enter the back nine of the season.  Powdery mildew is major fungal disease that is characterized by oil spots and white webbing on the surface of the leaves, canes and grape bunches.

On warm winter and spring days when moisture is abundant spores are released and wide-spread infection occurs rapidly.  Disease development is strongly favored by high humidity and cloudy weather, in addition to relatively warm temperatures.  La Nina’s spring showers and elevated temperatures created a perfect incubator in the Central San Joaquin Valley for powdery mildew to flourish.  Severe infection will cause leaves to fall prematurely, reducing yield and berry sugar content and will expose remaining bunches to sunburn.  If partial bunch infection occurs it can cause significant aesthetic issues for table grape growers.  Only the best growers with proactive spray protocols and hyper-vigilance have been able to stave off the encroachment the whole industry is currently battling through.  Receivers should be keenly focused on the quality of Autumn Kings on arrival now through the end of October.

DSM Diversifies Growing Portfolio

Posted on August 22nd, 2016

Earlier this year we announced the start of our first grape growing venture in Ica, Peru under Agro Direct, a wholly owned subsidiary of Direct Source Marketing.  In an effort to diversify our growing portfolio we also planted a significant portion of our farm with Peruvian Sweet Onions.  “Peruvian Sweets” are typically available to the American market from August through February.  Sweet onions are available most of the year with comprised of three main varieties; Walla Walla onions from Washington State, Vidalia Onions from the American south and Peruvian sweets.  The region in Ica, Peru is ideal for growing a large sweet onion with its dry weather and warm temperatures.  Direct Source Marketing continually seeks opportunities to establish ourselves as a leader in the produce industry.

Do High Temperatures Affect Grape Vines?

Posted on July 31st, 2016

La Nina weather conditions in the Central San Joaquin Valley have brought one of the hottest and prolonged heat waves to the region in recent years.  High temperatures are a common occurrence in table grape growing regions of California but the duration and severity of this summer’s high temperatures are starting to pose serious challenges.  Vine susceptibility to high temperatures is largely dependent on the variety and the stage of berry development with flowering and mid-ripening being a particularly vulnerable time.  Extended exposure to temperatures over 104 degrees Fahrenheit has major effects on vine health, reducing the rate of ripening by up to 50% and causing high incidences of berry shrivel and sunburn.  Many varieties will struggle for proper sugar development as vines go into a protective state, drawing sugar out of the fruit and into the vine to protect itself from dehydration.

Strategies to minimize damage during major heat events are required in order to create the best possible outcome under such demanding circumstances.  Shade cloth coverings have been shown to reduce canopy temperatures and enhance berry quality during abnormally hot seasons.  However, shading of vineyards can have a negative effect of berry composition and in some cases can further delay ripening.  The high temperatures of the 2016 growing season have been sustained for a particularly long duration.  The long-term effects on the season have yet to be fully realized, but are starting to show with receivers noting softer fruit and less than desirable sugar content on arrival. It may be too early to put a fork in California’s ability to manage volumes late into December but if this weather trend continues, Peruvian growers will once again have a leg up on the competition.

La Nina Brings Extreme Heat and Humidity to California

Posted on July 5th, 2016

This year’s El Nino weather system was much more mild than expected and for all intents and purposes brought positive effects to California’s table grape growing regions.  Increased precipitation and increased snowpack raised California’s water reserves and spurred early spring plant growth.  La Nina is essentially El Nino’s opposite and historically bring less rain and higher temperatures to central and southern California.  The state experienced a two week prolonged heatwave with record setting temperatures and high humidity.  Some growers in the San Joaquin Valley have already filed insurance claims due to mildew on fruit that isn’t even ready for harvest.  Although many growers are anticipating a bumper crop the high temperature and heavy mildew could cause a problem for late season grape programs.  Well-above average temperatures are expected to continue throughout the summer, but to what extent it will affect California’s table grape industry has yet to be seen.

California Growers Brace For Record Temperatures

Posted on June 20th, 2016

Growers throughout California are preparing for a weeklong stretch of record breaking temperatures that could intensify a potential production gap in the grape market.  The high temperatures have prompted the National Weather Service to issue warnings for growing regions throughout the state.  The heatwave is arriving on the cusp of the summer solstice when the days are the longest leaving plants exposed to more solar radiation and light exposure.  Coachella, Arvin and the San Joaquin Valley are anticipating daytime temperatures in the 100s with little to no cloud cover.  Coachella in particular will suffer from the sweltering heat with a high today of 124, which could break previous heat records.

The Mexican grape season is winding down leaving the burden of supply on California growers.  Excessive heat and exposure to sunlight adversely effects grape production, which could hamper a smooth transition into the California season.  Temperature and light exposure play a critical role in the development and ripening of grape berries.  Excessive and prolonged heat prevents sugar accumulation, color development and exposes clusters to sunburn and heat injury.  It’s difficult to predict the amount of damage these record breaking temperature will have since susceptibility to heat damage is usually variety dependent.  Growers throughout the state are doing their best to prepare for what could be a major setback to the California table grape season.

Landmark Election Bodes Well for Peruvian Agriculture

Posted on June 13th, 2016

Peru is an emerging social market economy characterized by a high level of international trade and progressive development.  While mining and mineral commodities make up a major share of the country’s foreign trade, Peruvian agricultural exports have become a substantial force in the national economy.  The landscape of Peru is incredibly diverse, containing 30 of the 32 world climates making it a versatile country for agricultural development.  There is huge potential for growth in the sector but political reform is necessary to aid in the access to investment capital, irrigation infrastructure and tax reform.  Last week’s presidential election was a promising first step to the continued development of the agriculture sector in Peru.

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski: a 77 year-old former finance minister, World Bank economist and Wall Street banker clinched a tight race to become Peru’s 95 president.  Kuczynski has pledged to ease investment restrictions with an eye to bolstering Peru’s economy and has emphasized the importance of agricultural development.  The President Elect in an interview with ft.com said, “The key thing now is to get a consensus around a very basic program: small and medium enterprises, tax simplification…and improved water access.”

Growers in emerging economies often face much different challenges than that of developed nations.  The difficulty in securing investment capital with reasonable interest rates has been a limiting factor in agricultural development in the country.  Kaczynski’s emphasis on growing the economy and specifically the agriculture industry could usher in a surge of development and growth.  Many of our growers feel that the direction of the new president will have positive effects for the economy, the people of Peru and the agricultural industry as a whole.

RJO Quality Inspections Keep Direct Source Ahead of the Competition

Posted on May 22nd, 2016

During the summer months Direct Source shifts from a South American importer to a just in-time replenishment service provider for East Coast and Midwest retailers.  We go to great lengths to ensure every load of fruit we ship is of the highest quality to meet the specifications of our retail customers.  Partnering with RJO Produce inspection services gives us the opportunity to have every lot inspected and rated for quality before it’s loaded.  With an additional QC inspection upon arrival in our East Coast warehouse, you can be confident of the quality of your just in-time replenishment order.

Brothers, Rob and John O’Rourke founded RJO in 1993 and bring a combined 67 years of inspection and procurement experience in the produce industry.  RJO developed its own smartphone inspection app that allows field inspectors to take pictures and file a report with a “Bird Dog Quality Score” before the product is loaded on our truck.  The system allows their inspectors to input a broad range of quality characteristics for each commodity and variety; from size, color and solidity to brix and overall appearance.  From this report Direct Source can analyze and determine whether a specific lot meets our high specifications for each customer we service. Partnering with a strong company like RJO helps to put us above the competition.

California Growers Brace for a Hot Summer

Posted on May 9th, 2016

Farmers are sometimes victims and sometimes beneficiaries during and after an El Niño.  Climatologists are expecting to see temperature and precipitation impacts through Central and Southern California in the coming months.  Many computer forecast models are suggesting that El Niño will transition to a La Niña this summer.  Typically, La Niña summers feature unpredictable storms and hotter temperatures with the hottest month being July.  Chilean growers saw their season cut short by severe weather patterns and flooding.  As of now, Californian table grape growers are bracing for the same unpredictable conditions.  The 2015-2016 El Niño event turned out to be much less powerful than experts had originally anticipated.  Let’s hope forecasters have again overestimated the potential for a hot and wet California summer.

2016 Mexican Table Grape Season

Posted on April 25th, 2016

The start of the Mexican Table grape season is on pace for a normal start date with most growers expecting to start packing the first week of May.  Official projections were released for the Mexican table grape industry and estimates look to be lower than last year.  Light volumes on Perlette and Sugraones will start crossing the border into Nogales starting next week with Flames to follow shortly after.  Acreage of green seedless is down 20-25% while Red Globe production could be more than 30% lower compared with last year.  Reports from the ground indicate a strong Red Flames crop leaving it as the front runner for promotional opportunities this season. The industry is moving through the last 2 weeks of Chilean storage supplies and most Mexican growers expect a smooth transition into the Mexican season.  With prices on green and red seedless set at high levels, the opening pricing on Mexican table fruit is still in question.

Table Grape Industry Can’t Ignore Climate Change

Posted on April 18th, 2016

The grapevine is one of the oldest cultivated plants in existence, but thrive in relatively narrow geographical regions.  Grapes are known to be one of the most difficult crops to grow, sensitive to subtle changes in temperature, rain, humidity and exposure to sunlight.  Climate conditions are shifting in many growing regions and these changes are big enough to have significant effects on crop production in the near future.  The impacts of climate change on the table grape industry are not likely to be uniform across all varieties and regions.  While modern farming technologies continue to improve, the impact of extreme weather events and rising global temperatures highlight potential vulnerability.

While the exact changes to specific grape growing regions are speculative at this point, climatologists agree that the industry will have to adapt to changing regional challenges.  This year’s El Nino weather system increased precipitation and elevated median temperatures for California and Chilean table grape growing seasons.  Chilean exports are down nearly 18%, and importers have battled arrival quality issues throughout the season.  Already hot regions have experienced warmer conditions that have produced challenges in ripening balanced fruit.  Understanding the effects of climate change at the local level will be significant for those regions looking to stay productive.  Over the coming decades the industry will be required to change whether it wants to or not.  How successful growers are able to adapt to changing global climate conditions will largely determine the future of the table grape industry.