An early exit from California table grapes, late arrivals from Chile and South Africa and good quality fruit led to a better than expected season for the Peru table grape season.

Peru’s table grape season is on its final stretch, and is set to finish higher than originally expected for the 2021-22 harvest.

The Grape Reporter spoke with a number of Peruvian exporters to get their insight into the upcoming campaign and assess the challenges it faces both abroad and at home.

The Peruvian table grape industry is forecast to export a record volume of fruit in the upcoming season, with the first estimate pegging shipments at 62.5 million boxes.

Over the last 10 years, the table grape industry has shown great dynamism, especially in the Southern Hemisphere, with numerous changes taking place.

Southern Hemisphere table grape varieties have expanded over the last ten years and are expected to continue to grow in popularity, leaving the older varieties behind.

In addition, if forecasts are realized, this year could also mark the first time Peru surpasses Chile in production, the USDA report said.