According to one Chinese importer the Sweet Sapphire grapes are currently marketed at the high price of 650 Yuan (almost €90) per 9 kg box.
Mildura-based grower and exporter GrapeCo Australia is one of the first to get Sweet Sapphire into China this season. The company's co-owner Adrian Caia says their first two air pallets were quickly sold in Guangzhou markets and calls are already coming in for more.
“We had some arrive in China two days ago and they’ve already been sold,” he says.
“We’ve had a fair bit of feedback so far and it’s all positive on their colour and taste. It’s got a lot of people ringing us, that’s for sure.”
He says harvest of the grape usually starts mid-January and runs for a little over a month for them.
“We just started harvesting about four or five days ago. It’s smaller volumes at the moment because they’re younger vines, but the quality is excellent this season,” he says.
“We’ve got about 150 acres in, and I think we’ll be able to stretch out the harvest till the third week of February at this stage.”
Only five or six growers in Australia currently plant Sweet Sapphire, which was first sent into China in 2015. Mr Caia says it is a great seedless grape variety for both consumers and growers.
“It’s got an elongated shape, it can grow up to 45mm and its colour is full black right up to stem cap. The taste is really good, it gets to 19 to 22 brix, with nice rich flavour,” he says.“It’s also a hardy grape and stores well, so it ticks all the boxes. It’s also great for our growing area in Mildura – we’ve had a really great season and haven’t been affected by heat or rain at all.”
Approximately 100 cartons of Sweet Sapphire were sent to China in 2015, but a strong season and maturing vines means the volumes will be significantly higher in 2016.
Mr Caia GrapeCo Australia plans to send around 20-30 thousand cartons of Sweet Sapphire into China by both sea and air.
GrapeCo Australia’s other speciality varieties are Candy Snaps, Cotton Candy, Candy Charms, Sweet Favours and Sugar Crisps, with new varieties showcased throughout the season. It’s traditional grape varieties are Menindee Seedless, Ralli Seedless, Sweet Surrender, Thomson Seedless, Crimson Seedless, Long Crimson Seedless, Red Globe, Sweet Celebration, Jack’s Salute and Luisco Seedless.
Mr Caia says the other varieties going to China include Crimson Seedless and Sweet Celebration, which will both be harvested and sent later this month.
For more information:
Adrian Caia
GrapeCo Australia
Tel: +61 400 856 475
Email: [email protected]
www.grapecoaustralia.com.au