(ProduceNews) - The 2013 Mexican grape season is expected to start out a little later and a little lighter than normal, but with full crops, abundant promotional opportunities and normal timing from late May or early June through the end of June, according to most of the growers, shippers and marketers The Produce News talked to about the deal.

“Definitely, [the Mexican grape growers] have a full crop in place,” said John Pandol, chairman of the grape division of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas in Nogales, AZ, and a director of Pandol Bros. Inc. in Delano, CA, March 27, after having spent the previous week in the growing areas in Mexico.

“They will start late and finish normal,” Mr. Pandol continued. “I think there will be just a modest amount of grapes around for the Memorial Day ad period,” with a “big push” for business starting the following weekend and continuing through June. “So there should be grapes [from Mexico] through the Fourth of July” and possibly for the following weekend.