Fresh produce company Vanguard International has begun shipping its grapes from its new packhouse at Vanguard Challapampa in Ica, Peru.

It says the new packhouse allows for a range of packing styles and types — a big advantage when packing multiple varieties for all types of customers in over 25 countries – with superior cooling and cold chain control.

“We are thrilled to see this year’s crop moving into the market out of our brand-new facility,” says Craig Stauffer, Vanguard International CEO.

“Since the acquisition of Vanguard Challapampa in April 2016, we’ve seen some exciting growth on our farms in terms of new grape varieties and the completion of our packhouse is the next step in our vertical-integration strategy to get the amazing fruit from this region to market.”

One of the benefits of the new facility is harnessing the ability to pre-condition the grapes in the packhouse as opposed to out in the field, allowing the team to get the grapes out of the field heat and into a controlled environment quickly.

“The “best in class” pre–cooling at the new facility is designed to provide the optimal time, temperature, and humidity to cool the fruit, says Manuel Yzaga, president, Vanguard Peru.

“The result will be crisper berries, greener stems, and a longer shelf life.”

The selling and marketing of grapes out of Vanguard Challapampa will be handled by Vanguard Direct, which represents the Vanguard International Group in North America, selling and marketing table grapes and other products from around the world, and to the rest of the world by Vanguard International.

Vanguard owns the ranch the and packhouse, while Vanguard Direct has enhanced the marketing, sales, and distribution of imports from the Peru ranch into North America with the ability to control the product from growing to delivery. 

Vanguard Challapampa grape varieties include patented seedless green, red and black varieties. 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 Favors, and Sweet Sapphire with this year’s shipment volume doubling last years.