<p style="text-indent:0px; line-height:12px;"><span style="font-weight:bold;line-height:130%"> Fresno, CA</span><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">By ANUK Staff<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">3.11.13</p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p>2012 marked a record year for the California table grape crop. The state shipped 101.5 million boxes of fresh grapes during the 2012 season.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The season began in early May of 2012 and continued throughout January 2013. California produce 99 percent of the commercial fresh grapes grown in the United States. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> “Grapes from California are a popular choice in the U.S. and around the world,” said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. In the U.S., research shows that 99 percent of primary grocery shoppers prefer California grapes over imports. California preference is also seen in many export markets. In 2012, 41 percent of the crop was exported. </p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><p> “We constantly seek new and interesting ways to remind people of the benefits of eating grapes from California and to motivate increased purchase,” said Nave.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">The California table grape season is two months away, retail, consumer, and foodservice campaigns are planned to kick off in May.<hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding"><a class="btn btn-sm btn-primary col-lg-12" style="white-space: normal;" href=" http://www.freshcaliforniagrapes.com/" target="_new">Grapes From California</a></p><hr class="legacyRuler"><hr class="invisible minimal-padding">
