Mexican table grape shipments to the U.S. to date are around a third down year-on-year, while California's Coachella Valley has also gotten off to a slower start. 

A U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report on May 29 showed Mexican table grape crossings through Nogales stood at 5.5 million 18-pound equivalent cartons - 30% lower than the 7.8 million registered by the same time last year.

Last season Mexico shipped a total of 21 million cartons through the port of entry.

Meanwhile, grape shipments from the Coachella Valley to date were shown as 500,000 cartons - 63% down on last year's 1.4 million. Final volumes last year from the region were 4.9 million cartons.

Lower volumes of Flame Seedless are the main driver of the reduction from both origins, with Coachella volumes of the variety down  700,000 units and Mexican volumes at 2 million carton - around half last year's level.

Mexican Perlette shipments are also down 41% at 943,000 cartons.

FOB prices of Coachella grapes are similar to last year despite the supply drop, with Sugraone registering US$30 per 18-pound box and Flame registering US$22.95-24.95 per box, according to USDA Agricultural Market Service (AMS) data.

Prices for Mexican grapes, however, reflect the volume drop, with Flame prices averaging US$20.95-21.95 compared to US$14.95-18.95 last year, while Perlette is fetching US$18.95-20.95 compared to US$12.95-14.95.

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