In just two weeks, the table grape harvest will start in the Region of Murcia, which accounts for 90% of this fruit's production in Spain, with around 140,000 tons. Although Italy is a bigger producer in terms of volume, Murcia produces the largest amount of seedless table grapes in Europe.
Although the region has been breaking rainfall records for over six months, with more rain in these months than in the past three years, table grape crops will not be affected, according to Apoexpa.
"We foresee a harvest with normal volumes, given that the rains have not affected the fruit setting or the growth process. In general, the conditions in May have been very favorable for the crop's correct development," said Joaquín Gómez, president of the
Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits, Table Grapes and Other Agricultural Products (Apoexpa).
At the moment, the markets are supplied by Egypt, among other countries, whose prices are lower than those of the Spanish production. "We hope that Spanish table grapes will be competitive, given the varieties we have and their quality. We also expect the demand for table grapes to be as high as that achieved so far by stone fruit, considering that the consumption of fresh fruit has increased since the health crisis started," said Joaquín Gómez.
The representative of this association does also not expect labor problems, given that the stone fruit and citrus campaigns in Murcia are at a very advanced stage and there will be enough pickers available for the table grape harvest until it ends in November.
Last year, the first table grape batches were shipped to Asian markets in China and Vietnam, and this year, Spanish exporters expect those shipments to increase. "Last year, we made the first shipments on a trial basis and it was a success. This year, therefore, we will continue to grow in these markets. The next step is to gain access to the market in Thailand, although the process to obtain the export protocol has been delayed due to the health crisis situation."