California table grape stocks are 79% higher than this time during the previous season, with red varieties largely responsible for the increase. 

According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) ‘Western Fruit Report: Grape Cold Storage Summary’ for Dec. 15, there were around 2.5 million boxes of the fruit in cold storage.

The figure is nearly double last year's level, but still lower than during the 2014 season, when 3.4 million boxes were registered.

In terms of the varieties, volumes of the late green seedless Autumn King are 47% lower than last year at 154,341 boxes, which also puts it lower than in 2014.

On the other hand, there is a strong year-on-year increase in the quantities of red table grapes. There are more than one million boxes of Crimson Seedless - nearly double last year's levels but lower than during 2014.

There are also 669,470 boxes of other red seedless varieties, compared to the 173,000 and 303,000 there were in 2015 and 2014 respectively.

California table grape inventories are reflected in the prices of imported table grapes from Peru - a major supplier into the U.S. market during this time of the year.

Both Flame Seedless and Crimsons Seedless have been selling at lower levels than last year. 

According to the USDA, from week 46 to 50 the average selling price of Flame Seedless was 34% lower year-on-year at US$22.30 per 18-pound box, while Crimson Seedless was selling at US$24.60.

The situation is different in the case of imported green seedless grapes, with prices of Thompson Seedless 24% higher year-on-year at US$39.90 per box, and Sugraone prices 6% higher at US$32.30 per box.

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