DELANO, CA - Seventy-five years in the produce business is a remarkable feat, no matter where you’re standing. It takes grit and determination to be successful in this industry, and the team at Jasmine Vineyards brings this attitude to market every day. To learn more about what has driven the company’s success, I turned to Jon Zaninovich.
“Over the last few years alone, Jasmine Vineyards has made some key investments that have driven growth,” the company’s President explained to me. “We built a state-of-the-art, high-efficiency cold storage facility, which was completed in 2017. We introduced new packaging options like GrapesToGo™, loose pack and backyard compostables. We also introduced Fresh Alerts™, a weekly video update from the ranch which shows viewers our varieties being harvested, along with brix, size, and all varieties available in real time.”
As a family-owned, California-grown operation, Jasmine Vineyards prides itself on its ongoing work with the California Table Grape Commission (CTGC).
“We really built our reputation by getting involved from the start,” Jon pointed out. “My father, Martin Zaninovich, served as CTGC Chairman of the Board, and now I’m wrapping up my own term. He and his cousin Vincent were trailblazers—and the trade took notice. Back in 1966, Martin was the first to be awarded California Fresh Fruit Association’s (CFFA) Mentor’s Award.”
In recent years, Kathleen Nave, CTGC President, joined the ranks of prestigious recipients to be officially recognized as “a person who, through effort, discovery, innovation, dedication, and/or perseverance, has influenced the industry in a positive way”—as Jon described.
It’s this legacy that continues to drive Jasmine Vineyards forward as both a family farm and an active partner in the table grape industry.
“We’re able to evolve as a company by keeping our operations lean, measured, and focused,” Jon illuminated. “We can respond to market needs and stay ahead of trends while continuing to position Jasmine Vineyards as a cut above.”
Looking down the road, I asked Jon what we can expect from the grower in the years ahead.
“In addition to the varieties that helped propel growth, like our Sweet Celebration, Summer Crunch, and Sweet Globe, we’ll continue introducing new varieties that grab our attention,” Jon said, also sharing the specifics of what constituted a good candidate for Jasmine Vineyards’ offerings. “Big, sweet, flavorful, crunchy—these are what our grape fans rave about, so that’s what we look for in a new variety.”
Jon added the company is always exploring packaging options to satisfy consumer demand, with an emphasis on recycled materials and minimal packaging.
“We’ve also enhanced shelf-stability through a partnership with Hazel Tech®,” Jon added, “and we’ll be further positioning grapes as a convenient, shareable, and healthy snack.”
A bounty awaits Jasmine Vineyards, and we here at AndNowUKnow can’t wait to hear all about it.
