Start of the harvest season for Concord grapes

The harvest of Concord grapes, produced and marketed in Italy and Europe by Zuccarella Società Cooperativa Agricola, began on 12 July 2024.

Rocco Zuccarella, president of the agricultural cooperative of Scanzano Jonico (Matera), explains: "We are now more than 15 days ahead of schedule, not only because of the general warm weather that has accelerated the ripening of the grapes, but above all because this year the crops were covered promptly during the fruit setting phase. This is one of our niche products, which we are able to supply to buyers until mid-October thanks to the planting of early and late varieties. The idea of planting a few plots of land 7–8 years ago immediately turned out to be an excellent business choice and crop differentiation, and we have been the first to invest in this crop in the region of Basilicata."

The sugar content easily reaches 17-18° Brix. The berries have a distinctive and pleasant taste, reminiscent of strawberries. It is a grape particularly appreciated for its beneficial and nutritional properties, rich in vitamins A and B, vitamin C, potassium, iron, phosphorus, calcium, manganese and magnesium, as well as polyphenols and flavonoids contained in the seeds and skin.

More than 90% of the production is sold to Italian and European supermarkets. "We have made agreements with 12 large retail stores, to which we will deliver strawberry grapes packed in 500-gram cardboard trays, which will be placed in a further packaging. However, we are talking about limited quantities for each customer. We have no difficulties in placing the goods in the best way, with satisfactory offers. Regarding the foreign markets, important quantities are shipped to Germany and Switzerland. However, only a small part of the volume is destined for supermarkets and the hospitality and restaurant sector," concludes Rocco Zuccarella.