Pretty Lady Vineyards is reporting an early start to the California table grape season, giving retailers earlier-than-normal access to domestic product. The early arrival opens an opportunity to capitalize on strong summer demand before the typical peak promotional window kicks off.
This is a separate development from the broader grape supply shortage out of Mexico that's been affecting the market — the California early start signals that domestic volume is building and could help relieve some of that pressure. For category managers, it's a chance to reset grape programs with California-grown fruit sooner than planned.
Watch how quickly volume builds out of California's early varieties before making broad promotional commitments. Early starts can sometimes mean thinner initial supplies before the main crop volume ramps up.