Dominican Republic ships first table grape export to U.S

Montecristi.- A major milestone in Dominican agriculture was marked yesterday as a container carrying 2,000 boxes of table grapes—totaling 16 tons—was shipped from Arismendy Almonte’s farm in Guayubín, Montecristi, to the United States. The shipment was part of a public event attended by President Luis Abinader, the Minister of Agriculture, and other officials and guests.

The event included a field day to launch the harvest of over 15 containers of grapes in Guayubín, while an additional 20 containers were being harvested in the San Juan region. The Dominican Ministry of Agriculture, in partnership with international company Bloom Fresh, introduced the Allison and Timpson grape varieties to local farms in Guayubín, Baní, and San Juan—creating new business opportunities for local growers.

President Abinader hailed the event as historic, highlighting the government’s belief in agribusiness and its potential to drive sustainable development. With full production, the grape industry is expected to generate up to 10,000 direct jobs. The initiative has received technical support from both Dominican and Chilean experts, signaling a collaborative effort to boost the country’s agricultural exports.