On January 3, Peruvian Fátima Balmelli posted a video on TikTok showing some giant grapes, almost the size of a lemon, that her family produces at their farm in Ica. The video went viral and generated a barrage of messages from people interested in buying the grapes. Fátima has no experience selling fruit, but she decided to take advantage of the opportunity that social media offered her.
Fatima's family, led by her father, has been producing and exporting table grapes for 20 years. As a result of demand, Fátima got involved using the Muscatel brand. She initially distributed the grapes by delivery but had to rethink her strategy because of the high demand. She then offered the grapes in wineries and stores in Punta Hermosa and Lima, distributing up to 800 kilos in one week.
At first, she offered whole bunches (1 kilo) but, since they are difficult to transport, she decided to change her offer. Fátima opted to cut the grapes by hand from the bunch to facilitate transport. The Premium & Exotic variety is appreciated for its flavor, juiciness, and crunchy texture. The giant grape season is coming to an end, but exports continue to meet quality standards. Despite weather complications, such as rains and landslides, Fatima remains committed to the business.
The success also drew criticism, with some commentators claiming that the grapes were genetically modified, had been treated with pesticides, or were not really the size shown in the video. Fátima responded to these claims with information: "People have to understand that grapes don't come in a mold. Each cluster is different," comments Fátima, who believes that there is still a lot of ignorance about grapes: "People only know about seedless and seeded grapes; there are many more varieties and each one has its own way of being taken care of."
Source: elcomercio.pe