Awe Sum's Winter Organic Table Grape Season Begins

Awe Sum Organics, the largest importer of organic table grapes from the Southern Hemisphere, has begun the tenth season of its organic Peruvian winter table grape program.

This program helps fill the winter organic table grape gap when there are few options on the table. David Posner, Founder and President of Awe Sum Organics, said harvesting had begun in a very light way, with volume slated to pick up by early December and last into April.

David Posner, Founder and President, Awe Sum Organics

“There is a natural gap in organic table grapes after California finishes up in early December and before growers in Sonora, Mexico, get going in April or May. We help fill that gap,” said Posner, who added that there are also other importers of Peruvian organic grapes who participate in the deal.

Awe Sum has added several new growers to its lineup allowing it to increase its Peruvian supplies this season. One of these new growers is located in the northern grape-growing region of Peru, while the other operates in the southern half of the country. The company also added a new organic grower in South Africa with grape vineyards just coming into production.

“There is a natural gap in organic table grapes after California finishes up in early December and before growers in Sonora, Mexico, get going in April or May. We help fill that gap.” - David Posner

Starting the winter organic grape season with grapes from Northern Peru, Awe Sum finishes the season with its Southern Peruvian organic grape production. "Our growers’ organic table grape vineyards in Northern and Southern Peru combine to provide a good supply all winter long of high-quality red and green seedless grapes, and now we have a top-quality South African organic table grape grower helping us to fill the transition period between our Northern Peru and our Southern Peru harvests," said Posner, adding that this year’s South Africa volume will be limited, but it will increase as the grapes mature over the next several years.

The veteran of the organic grape business said demand for organic grapes in the United States is significantly up, with retailers all over the country offering the product on a year-round basis. Though supply is increasing, Posner said demand appears to be growing at a faster clip, especially during the shoulder seasons when the supply goes through seasonal dips.

While Peru did have significant rain during this year’s growing season, Posner said solid supplies should be available by mid-December from Peru. At that juncture, he expects that California’s supply of organic red grapes will have gapped, and there will only be a few organic greens still available. Consequently, the FOB price on both colors should be strong.

"Our growers’ organic table grape vineyards in Northern and Southern Peru combine to provide a good supply all winter long … and now we have a top-quality South African organic table grape grower helping us to fill the transition period between our Northern Peru and our Southern Peru harvests.” - David Posner

Awe Sum’s Peruvian organic grape program is by far the largest and most advanced in Peru. “Our high quality and crisp, sweet flavor speak volumes," said Posner. "Awe Sum Organics started this project to grow grapes organically in Peru over 15 years ago. Our organic Peruvian red and green seedless grapes have been in development since early 2007 when I dreamed of creating an organic table grape program for US and Canada for the winter months to be available starting when California finishes and until Sonora Mexico begins to complement the domestic grape season. There are many challenges to growing table grapes organically in Peru for shipment to the US and Canada, and we have worked through all of them over the years.”

Since 1985, Awe Sum Organics has been a leader in the organic movement. “Throughout our growth, we have remained dedicated to the principles on which Awe Sum Organics was founded. In addition to outstanding taste and quality, our fruit embodies core ethics, which we will never compromise. We believe in doing what is right for humankind and the environment as a whole.”