What an exciting trip to visit a table grape harvest and packing operation at Illume Ag in the Coachella Valley! The grapes shown here are the Midnight Beauties, which are black seedless grapes.
Just to add a little bit of context, the Coachella Valley is the desert located in Southern California. I visited this operation in the middle of June, when the temperatures were well into the hundreds. The benefit of working within the grapevines is the extra shade, but there is no escaping the humidity!
Table of Contents
Where are Grapes Grown in California?
Table grapes (not wine grapes) are grown in two main regions throughout California: the Coachella Valley (southern California) and the San Joaquin Valley (central California). The example provided here is from a growing operation in the Coachella Valley.
When is Grape Season in California?
Between the two main growing regions in the state, table grapes grown in California are available from May to January, with the season starting in the Coachella Valley and ending in the San Joaquin Valley. So, make sure you check your grape packaging to see that you are buying California grown grapes when/where possible!
Table Grape Harvest & Packing
For a detailed overview of the entire harvesting and packing process, check out the video below! In it, you can also see what the bunches look like before harvest compared to the bunches you buy at the grocery store!
Table Grape Harvesting
The table grape harvesting process is as follows:
- The harvesters take carts into the rows of grapevines to harvest. These carts contain multiple bins that will be filled as the workers harvest. (At this particular operation, they use bags to cover the bins and then switch them out once they get dirty.)
- They clip the bunches from the grapevines using clippers, and then thin out the bunches based on quality aspects (e.g., not the right color, pruned, has some sort of physical defect such as cracking). One really notable difference regarding the table grape harvesting process is the slowness and attention to detail. The workers are carefully selecting the grapes that are ready for harvest, and then removing the fruit that does not meet quality specifications.
- Once all of the buckets have been filled, they take them to a designated packer.
Table Grape Packing
Once the carts have been filled, the containers go to a designated packer in the field. Each packer has a set packing table, where they pack the table grapes into bags and then into boxes/containers. In this case, you can see that they are packing the bags into both cardboard boxes and Styrofoam containers. This is based on the customer, and in this case, the Styrofoam containers were for international customers.
Table Grape Packaging
One thing that is consistent regardless of the actual box type, is the set up of the box. There is a bag, a liner and then after all of the bags of grapes have been included, a Sulfur Dioxide pad is included, the bag is closed and so is the outer container. The Sulfur Dioxide pad acts as a fungicide, which is very commonly used with conventionally grown table grapes, and the use is included on the label for each bag of grapes, as well as the label for the outer packaging. (Click here if you would like to learn more about why and how Sulfur Dioxide is used.)
Table Grape Packing Process
- During the packing process, the packers are doing a second quality check. They have a set of clippers and will remove any fruit that does not meet quality specifications that the harvester might have missed.
- The packers then determine which/how many clusters go into each bag.
- Eight bags fill up a box, are weighed to make sure they fulfill the weight requirement for the customer and then are palletized.
- Once the pallets are complete, they are covered and then will be taken to the cooler to await transportation to the customer.
Questions about Table Grapes
How are table grapes harvested?
They are harvested using clippers, and the workers remove any excess/undesirable fruit.
Are any tools used to harvest table grapes?
Yes, small clippers are used.
Do all of the grapes get harvested at the same time or are there multiple passes through the vineyards?
All table grapes are harvested at the same time. Any fruit that may not be ready for harvest or are already passed their harvest time are left on the vines.
How do they know when table grapes are ready to be harvested?
This is specific based on the grape cultivar being grown, but in general, it is based on the Soluble Solids Concentration (SSC) and color of the fruit. The actual time of harvest is determined based on taking a sample of the fruit in each block and using the results to determine if the fruit is ready for harvest. These are referred to as maturity indices, and you can learn more of the specifics related to table grapes on the UC Davis Postharvest website.
Are table grapes packed in the field?
Yes, they are commonly packed in the field (as you saw in the example above). There are also other examples of them being packed in packing houses, but it is a similar process and no wash water is used.
Are any tools used during the table grape packing process?
Yes. Packing tables and clippers are used. The packing tables are used to pack the grapes, and the clippers are used to remove any fruit that might have been missed during the harvesting process.
Why are Sulfur Dioxide pads used with table grapes?
To help prevent pathogen growth and to keep the green stems greener for longer. The green stems are an important marketing aspect, as consumers associate them with freshness.
Are Sulfur Dioxide pads used with organic table grapes?
No, they are not allowed to be used with organic grapes. (Click here to read more about the use of Sulfur Dioxide and the associated rules.)
Does the grape bag/packaging reflect the use of the Sulfur Dioxide pads?
Yes, all grape bags (and any other form of direct packaging) is required to include that Sulfur Dioxide has been used. In the example above, the use of Sulfur Dioxide is included on each individual grape bag, as well as on the boxes.
Do grapes continue ripening after harvest?
No, they do not continue ripening after harvest and are considered non-climacteric fruit.
How should I store grapes at home?
Grapes should always be stored in the fridge.
How should I wash grapes at home?
The FDA recommends that you only wash them with water. You should also make sure and wait to wash them until right before you are going to eat them. This will help them last for longer.
Featured Grower Information
I would like to send a big thank you to Illume Ag for allowing me to visit and to share this content! You can also see Illume Ag featured in the bell pepper harvest and packing post.
I hope you enjoyed this content! If so, please share it with someone else that you think might benefit from it.
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Interesting!
Thanks. The video was quite helpful.
Had to write an essay about grape production; I couldn’t find much info elsewhere. You’re a lifesaver!