California Ag Network

Tag: Grapes From California

  • Grapes from California Team Up with NFL Star Davante Adams

    The California Table Grape Commission (commission), All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams and the Los Angeles Rams are teaming up ahead of the first-ever regular-season football game in Australia. The matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne on Sept. 10 presents an opportunity to celebrate California’s global influence on and off the field. With two California teams competing on an international stage and a California-born-and-raised star athlete at the center of the matchup in one of the California table grape industry’s key export markets, the game, which will stream globally on Netflix, creates a platform to showcase California agriculture, talent, trade and culture to consumers around the world.

    A northern California native and standout athlete at Fresno State, Adams represents the connection between California’s agricultural heritage and its tradition of athletic excellence. Australia is an important export market for California table grapes, making the Rams game in Melbourne a natural opportunity to strengthen awareness of California grapes and the California goodness they represent among Australian consumers. The partnership highlights the state’s growers, shippers, workers, plus their families and communities while reinforcing California’s reputation for producing products enjoyed around the world.

    As a partner of the Rams, Grapes from California have been designated the official grape of the Los Angeles Rams domestically and in Australia. The campaign will feature two consumer sweepstakes designed to drive excitement on both sides of the Pacific. One sweepstakes will offer Australian fans the opportunity to win tickets to the historic Rams-49ers game in Melbourne, while a second sweepstakes will award a grand prize trip for two from Melbourne to Los Angeles, including travel and tickets to a future Rams home game. California grapes will also be integrated into Rams-hosted activities for fans happening in Melbourne around the historic game. More details about these activations will be announced in the coming weeks.

    “This is a uniquely California moment,” said Commission President Ian LeMay. “When two California football teams meet in Australia for a landmark event, it creates an extraordinary platform to tell California’s story. For our growers and shippers, Australia represents an important export market, and this partnership with a renowned athlete like Davante Adams allows us to highlight that exceptional athletes and agriculture products are rooted in California and shared around the world. Davante and the Los Angeles Rams embody what California represents: California roots with global reach. Together, we’re sharing the very best of California with consumers around the world.”

    “The Rams are proud to partner with Grapes from California as we bring one of the biggest moments in our season to an international audience,” said Chris Edwards, Los Angeles Rams Vice President of Partnerships. “Together, we’re celebrating the growing connection between

    the Rams and fans in Australia, using this global stage to share our story and engage audiences around the world.”

    “I’m from California, and the Central Valley will always be home,” said Adams. “That’s where my story began. Working with Grapes from California feels authentic because it represents the same people and values that shaped me. Taking that connection to Australia lets me bring that Valley pride and share it with fans across the world.”

    — Story Contributed by Grapes from California

  • California Table Grape Commission Launches a New Global Campaign as the Season Arrives Early

    The California table grape season is on track to arrive about two weeks early, signaling that grapes from California will be available for promotion longer than previous seasons. Each season begins in the Coachella Valley, where growers are expecting to begin harvesting at the beginning of May this year. An early start to harvesting in the San Joaquin Valley is also expected to begin in mid-June.

    “California grapes have always enjoyed a long season, with grapes often being promoted into January, but an early start to the season this year lets retailers get a head start on promotions and providing tasty, healthy, happy Grapes from California to eager customers,” said Commission President Ian LeMay.

    For the 2026 season, the Commission is launching an updated global marketing campaign throughout the U.S. and up to 22 export markets, targeting the trade — which includes retailers, wholesalers and importers, as well as primary shoppers — with the objective to drive demand for California table grapes. The updated campaign introduces retailers and consumers to a cast of characters known as the Lunchbox League. The Lunchbox League is a trio of superhero grapes that originate from California, where tasty fuels healthy, and healthy makes happy. Captain Cluster, Munch and Glow are the superheroes who make up the Lunchbox League and serve as the embodiment and personification of all the health benefits, taste, and quality of California grapes.

    “This campaign element is exciting because it capitalizes on the scientific perspective published by Dr. John Pezzuto in July 2025, which claimed grapes should be considered a superfood, in order to give the Lunchbox League their superhero status,” said LeMay.

    Dr. Pezzuto, Ph.D., D.Sc., is a leading resveratrol and cancer researcher and Dean of the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Western New England University.

    To drive demand for California grapes through the season, the commission works with retail partners on a variety of activities such as contests, digital promotions, merchandising, point-of-purchase materials and sampling. For retailers in the U.S. with registered dietitians on staff, the commission Retail RD Program offers an additional way to promote Grapes from California and highlight the health benefits of grapes to shoppers. Retail dietitians can work directly with the commission dietitian team to develop customized promotional activities and educational materials.

    “With a healthy crop arriving early and an engaging new campaign with demand-driving materials and activities, the commission is eager to work with retailers throughout the U.S. and around the world to move California table grape volume this season,” said LeMay.

    — Story provided by the California Table Grape Commission

  • More Consistent Year-Round Availability of Table Grapes Builds Global Demand

    Despite a lighter crop, California table grape growers enjoyed a good season in 2025, and the global appetite for grapes is increasing. In an interview with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network, David Magaña from RaboResearch at Rabobank discusses the state of table grape industry with global market insights. Watch this brief interview and read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • California Table Grape Growers Offer Scholarship Opportunities

    California table grape growers are once again providing scholarship opportunities to graduating high school seniors from the table grape growing regions of California. Three categories of scholarships are available again in 2026.

    Two scholarships are available to field workers and their families. The Field Worker Bridge Scholarship is a $14,500 scholarship for students who will attend two years at a community college and transfer to a four-year university in California. The Field Worker Scholarship is a $25,000 scholarship for students who will attend a four-year university in California. Eligible high school graduates or graduating seniors, or their parent/legal guardian, must have been employed as a field worker in a California table grape vineyard during the 2025 harvest or plan to be employed during the 2026 season to be eligible for the Field Worker Scholarships.

    The third scholarship is a $25,000 Agricultural Scholarship available for students interested in building a career in the California table grape industry and investing their undergraduate years of study in academic areas related to the industry. Eligible high school graduates or graduating seniors must pursue a four-year undergraduate degree from a California university in a field of study pertinent to table grapes and be residents of the Coachella or San Joaquin valleys.

    Three scholarships from each category are available. Applicants for all scholarships must plan to attend a California college or university. The deadline to apply for all scholarships is Friday, February 6, 2026.

    Since 1985, California table grape growers aided over 200 students in attending college. To hear from recent scholarship recipients, please visit: https://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/community-outreach/scholarship-recipients/.

    For more information on the scholarship program, please visit: https://www.grapesfromcalifornia.com/community-outreach/ or contact: Scholarships@grapesfromcalifornia.com.

  • Grapes from California Promoted Globally Throughout the Fall

    As the fall and winter seasons approach, the global marketing campaign executed by the California Table Grape Commission (commission) highlights the many ways to share, prepare, and enjoy Grapes from California all around the world.

    California grapes are available now through January with opportunities to promote grapes among festive holiday celebrations. The ongoing campaign offers a comprehensive suite of tools and incentives to encourage retailer promotions including: bonus opportunities, digital promotions, contests, point-of-purchase materials, and in-store sampling. To encourage shoppers to purchase California grapes, the campaign features advertising on multi-retailer shopper apps, digital coupons and rewards, influencer and RD collaborations, and targeted social media advertising that highlights recipes, snacking ideas, and the health benefits of California grapes.

    The execution of a dynamic global marking campaign requires not only a dedicated commission staff, but a network of keen export market representatives. One such representative, Francis Lee, was recently recognized with a service award to honor his 30 years of service to the California table grape industry. “In-country market representatives are exceptionally important to the success of the commission export marketing program,” said Ian LeMay, commission president. “Francis’ work over the past three decades has helped solidify Grapes from California as a globally recognized brand known for its quality, exceptional taste, and safety,” said LeMay.

  • Local Chefs at Whole Vine Festival Awarded for Innovative Use of California Table Grapes

    To support the local and innovative culinary use of grapes, the California Table Grape Commission sponsored a competition at the recent Whole Vine Festival, awarding cash prizes to the top three food trucks incorporating grapes from California on their menus. A $1,000 grand prize was awarded to Rice and Spice for their Thai Papaya (and grape) salad. Runner up $250 prizes went to Marcelino’s Wood Fired Pizza for their Whole Vine Pie (grape & balsamic glaze reduction drizzled over cheese blend topped with arugula and fresh sliced grapes) and their dessert pizza (with red grapes, brie and honey), and Madtown’s Burger & Tacos for their Grape Pollination Salad and PB&J Burger.  Watch this brief interview with Whole Vine Festival President Vickie Goudreau as she introduces the grand prize winner and shares more details with Matthew Malcolm on California Ag Network.

  • Celebrate Central Valley Grapes, Raisins & Wines at the Whole Vine Festival

    The inaugural Whole Vine Festival is coming to Fresno State University Oct. 21-22, 2023. Grape growers and consumers alike are invited to gather to celebrate the best of the San Joaquin Valley.  Watch this brief interview with Whole Vine Festival President Vickie Goudreau as she shares more details.  American Vineyard Magazine is proud to be among the Founding Sponsors and supporters of this free-admission event, so be sure to read more about the festival in the latest issue.

    Please thank this video’s sponsor the U.S Department of Agriculture for their industry support.

  • CA Table Grape Season in Full Swing with Lower Crop Estimate

    With the California table grape season in full swing and expectations for a positive season as the backdrop, the California Table Grape Commission revised its estimate for the 2020 table grape crop to 104.9 million 19-pound boxes, down from its April estimate of 106.5 million. The final harvest in 2019 was 104.99 million 19-pound boxes.

    “Estimating the crop is a detailed process that is formally undertaken three times a year and involves volume projections based on growing districts,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. “The significant amount of vineyard removal in 2019 appears to have been offset by new vineyards coming into production in 2020,” Nave said.

    Noting that demand has been strong and steady, Nave said the expectation is that the season as a whole will be a positive one. “Quality is excellent and demand is strong in the U.S. and in export markets, and grapes are a perfect fit for consumers in these complicated times: simple, flavorful, versatile, and full of health-enhancing phytonutrients that boost immune health.”

    With 65 percent of the California table grape crop typically shipped between September 1 and the end of January, Nave said that while grapes are a summer fruit, they are very definitely a fall and early winter fruit. With over 80 table varieties grown in California, consumers have lots of different grapes to try. For ideas that go beyond snacking, Nave suggests checking out the extensive collection of traditional and on-trend usage ideas at www.grapesfromcalifornia.com.