California's table grape crush volume spiked 132% in 2025, meaning a massive volume of fruit that would typically move through fresh channels got diverted to processing instead. At the same time, processed raisin-type grapes dropped by over 50%.
When fresh table grapes get crushed at this scale, it usually signals a difficult fresh market — oversupply, low prices, or quality issues that make processing a better economic option for growers. This kind of volume shift has downstream implications for how much fresh fruit makes it to retail and foodservice.
For category managers, this is worth watching as the 2026 California grape season approaches. If growers adjusted acreage or management practices in response to last year's economics, it could affect fresh availability and pricing windows this coming summer and fall.