In the dynamic world of fresh produce, Divine Flavor has established itself as a leader in premium table grapes by focusing on flavor, sustainability, and year-round availability. With roots in Sonora, Mexico, the company has expanded its operations across Mexico, South America, and California to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality table grapes throughout the year. Through strong partnerships and a dedication to innovation, Divine Flavor has become a trusted supplier to major North American retailers.
A testament to its commitment to excellence is Divine Flavor’s annual Grower Summit, held in December 2024 in Peru. This marked the company’s first exclusive grape summit in South America, with more than 30 growers from Mexico, Peru, Chile, and California in attendance. The event featured keynote presentations from leading grape breeders and agricultural innovators, offering valuable insights into industry trends. “Our objective of hosting grower summits for our producer community has always been focused on bringing together our group for an event of learning, networking, and celebrating the brand of Divine Flavor,” says Alan Aguirre Camou, chief marketing officer. “Our company is represented by the best growers in the world, and by bringing them together, it demonstrates our commitment to producing at the highest level, under the same vision and values we have as growers of fresh table grapes.”
In addition to providing a platform for collaboration, the summit reinforced Divine Flavor’s commitment to developing strong partnerships with its growers and delivering consistent quality across its supply chain. “Grower Summits have been and always will be an event for uniting the Divine Flavor grower community to strengthen its relationships with grower partners alongside our own farming operations and pursue a common goal to supply customers and consumers with the best-flavored grapes possible,” Aguirre Camou adds.
Expanding Presence and Maintaining Year-Round Availability
Since launching its South American import program in 2017, Divine Flavor has rapidly grown into one of North America’s top five grape importers. Partnering with growers in Peru, Chile, Brazil, and South Africa, the company has expanded its portfolio to include premium varieties like AutumnCrisp, which have gained popularity among consumers for their superior taste. “Recently, and leading into this year, our total volume of premium table grapes will be the highest it’s ever been, especially on AutumnCrisp. For us, we are seeing retailers (not only high-end retailers, but all chain stores) wanting to supply better flavor/eating varietals of table grapes,” says Carlos Bon, senior vice president of sales. “A lot of this has to do with consumers demanding more on quality vs. the overall cost of the grapes.”
While its South American operations have flourished, Divine Flavor remains deeply connected to its Mexican roots. Recent expansions in Jalisco, combined with later-season varieties in Sonora, have allowed the company to extend the Mexican grape season from early April through late July. This strategic approach helps bridge the gap between South American imports and California harvests, ensuring uninterrupted supply.
“Before our recent expansion in Jalisco about five years ago, the Mexican table grape season was from the first weeks of May until the later parts of June with anywhere from 20-24 million boxes total during a short window (depending on the year). This time frame has changed recently because of our Jalisco, Mexico, program which starts the first week of April and connects to the Sonora season,” Bon explains. “We have successfully mastered table grape growing in Jalisco, but there is a reason why there are only two companies who do it, and that’s because it’s extremely difficult to produce grapes there. It takes a lot of experience and day-to-day care to produce at the commercial levels we are known for.”
A Commitment to Flavor
At the heart of Divine Flavor’s success is its unwavering commitment to flavor. Whether grown on its own farms or by grower partners, each grape variety is carefully selected and cultivated to deliver the best possible taste. “At our company, flavor is and always will be at the forefront of how and why we grow. It takes a lot of training, oversight of our harvesting teams, the way we handle conditioning of the fruit and storage, among many other things,” says Bon. “To specialize in table grapes (or any of the other commodities we grow), it takes a lot of TLC and passion, which is why we put so much value on our workforce, social programs, and the personnel responsible for the everyday operations at the farm, warehouses, etc.”
Divine Flavor also places a strong emphasis on sustainability. By employing organic and sustainable farming practices, the company ensures that soil health remains a top priority, which in turn leads to healthier plants and better-tasting grapes. Additionally, Divine Flavor is actively involved in developing new grape varieties that promise higher nutritional values and greater pest resistance, aligning with its long-term vision of sustainable growth.
As Divine Flavor looks ahead, its goals include further market expansion, enhanced product development, and continued innovation in grape production. “Our main goal is to turn from a 99% satisfaction supplier to a 100% partner,” says Bon. With a growing portfolio of premium varieties and a steadfast commitment to quality, Divine Flavor is well-positioned to lead the global table grape industry into the future.
