"Table grapes, especially the Italia variety, have started well and the quality is good. Consumption is well distributed compared to the quantities we have this year, which are lower than last year. The number of hectares planted with Italia has actually decreased in favour of seedless grapes, and many plants have no bunches. Is this due to climate change? That remains to be seen. What is certain is that the weather in May 2023, which was very rainy and had few hours of daylight, led to a lack of buds this year," he says.
This is the opinion of Oronzo Diomede, president and commercial director of the Puglia&Natura producers' organisation, based in Rutigliano (Bari), which has 41 members and more than 450 hectares under cultivation, mainly for table grapes, with a total production of around 10,000 tons.
Italia variety
"The members supply the product to the Producers' organisation, which takes care of marketing. This year, because of the smaller volumes, we have focused mainly on loyal customers. In general, our aim is to export, with a share of more than 80%. Our main destinations are Germany and France. As far as Italian grapes are concerned, these countries like the crispness and yellow colour of the berries, which is considered synonymous with flavour and high Brix. The Nordic countries prefer more seedless white grapes with large, crunchy berries."
Commenting on the alleged stagnation of the German economy, Diomede points out: "The same is happening in France. This is also reflected in the fact that not all shipments can be insured. But this is not a new situation. Economic stagnation is obviously a cause for concern, and it is also present in our country. Globally, the gap between rich and poor has widened since the pandemic. The middle class has disappeared for good."
Late Pearl variety
"This is also reflected in table grape sales, where the grapes in demand are either top quality, regardless of the selling price, or low quality at a very low price. This shows the economic capacity of the markets, and there is a risk that a standard quality product will find it difficult to position itself," stresses the Producer organisation's sales manager. At the moment we have no problems with sales. Demand is very strong and prices are above last year's average and rising. Had it not been for the labour shortage, we would have been able to fulfil all the orders we have received," he says.
Melody variety
At the beginning of the campaign, the situation in the Red Sea caused some headaches. There was no certainty about when the goods would arrive. "Actually, the first shipments to Dubai and the UAE went off without a hitch and orders continue to come in."
Carlita variety
Seedless grapes
Op Puglia & Natura holds a licence for a large number of seedless varieties from the growers Grape Evolution and BLOOM FRESH. "Our organisation has also noticed a trend towards planting more seedless varieties as an alternative to seeded grapes. We currently have 70 per cent of our vineyards planted with seedless grapes. However, there has been some confusion about which varieties to plant. The markets are starting to become familiar with some seedless varieties, but the distinction for grapes is still mainly based on colour homogeneity: white, red or black grapes. This does not help our growers make the right choice.
On the right: The Melanie variety
Like other growers, Diomede points out that the campaign for table grapes, whether seeded or not, is generally shorter. "We started almost a month earlier and will finish around the first ten days of November," he says.
For more information:
Oronzo Diomede
Tel.: +39 340 2203352
Email: [email protected]
Pasquale Parente
Tel.: +39 3928974418
Op Puglia&Natura
Tel: +39 0804770977
[email protected]
www.pugliaenatura.it