Chile's grape export season to the U.S. is essentially wrapped up, with fewer than 100,000 boxes shipped in week 17. That said, East Coast cold storage still holds some Chilean inventory, so store shelves haven't gone dark yet. All eyes are now shifting to Mexico as the next major supplier to fill the void.
Industry sources say Mexico's grape season is going to face significant pressure — a combination of timing, volume expectations, and the need to smoothly absorb demand as Chilean supply fades. Any delays or quality issues in the Mexican program will be felt quickly at retail.
Buyers should be tracking Mexican grape availability closely over the next few weeks. The window between Chilean supply thinning out and Mexican volume hitting its stride is where the market gets tight.