Planning for the future of table grapes

As with any other fruit sector, the table grape sector is only as successful as it is because it is the result of planning. Some countries are in the process of implementing such planning, looking at least ten years ahead. This will be the theme of the Macfrut Table Grape Global Players meeting to be held on the second day of the exhibition (Thursday 9 May) at the Rimini Expo Centre. The event is part of the Table Grape Symposium, the world symposium on table grapes that will bring together the sector's experts and international operators at Macfrut (8-10 May 2024).

Johan Fouche, director of The Grape Company (Paarl - South Africa), who has been in the table grape industry for more than two decades, will be the speaker on the topic of "Long-term strategy from South Africa to global markets". "As a company, The Grape Company is implementing long-term strategies to address the challenges facing the South African table grape sector in the global market sphere. Macfrut will be an opportunity for us to share our perspectives and also a fruitful networking opportunity."

Market trends, production trends, product innovations and business strategies are just some of the topics that will be discussed by several producers on Thursday. We have interviewed some of them about the topics that will be covered.

Benjamin Cilloniz Guerero will bring his experience from one of the most dynamic markets in recent years, Peru. The CEO of the Safco Peru Group, a 600-hectare table grape farm in Villacurì-Ica, sees the coming years as follows. "What can we expect from Peru after a decade of authorized varieties? During this period, the entire sector has evolved enormously, and Peru is facing new challenges, both in terms of production and marketing."

Oscar Salgado, an agronomist and global consultant with more than 30 years' experience in table grapes, will be speaking on 'Global table grape supply, drivers and challenges'. According to Salgado, "The supply of table grapes is evolving very rapidly throughout the supply chain. This includes growing techniques, varieties, pre- and post-harvest logistics, climatic challenges and the retail sector, with consumers becoming increasingly demanding. The consolidation of tropical and subtropical areas, as well as new countries and regions of production on the supply side, are changing the way we approach the table grape business and forcing us to apply more technology to successfully face the future."

The premium table grape market will be the subject of a presentation by Graziano De Filippis, commercial director of Polar Europe (Spain), where he coordinates the global supply of the Sweeta brand of Blanc Seedless table grapes to the major European retailers. "Sweeta is an example of how a table grape brand that guarantees a broad concept of quality can guarantee a global and centralized supply of products to the largest European supermarkets. The integration of varietal development, production coordination and centralization of commercial supply is a unique case of success."

Lastly, the case of Spain will be presented by Fina Mena, Commercial director of Moyca Grapes, who will discuss 'Spanish Table Grapes for the World: New Challenges and Possibilities'.

Macfrut Table Grape Symposium
The whole world of table grapes will meet at Macfrut in a three-day event (8-10 May 2024) that will bring together the entire supply chain, made up of stakeholders, market operators, universities, agronomists and technical specialists. The focus will be on table grapes, the symbolic product of the 41st edition of Macfrut, with Apulia, the main producer in Italy, the region partner of the fair.

The symposium will include three events: The Macfrut Table Grape Symposium on the first day with experts from all over the world (8 May); the Macfrut Table Grape Global Players on market and production trends (Thursday, 9 May); and the Table Grape in the Field with technical visits to a test field set up inside the fair (Friday, 10 May). The symposium will be coordinated by Bruno Mezzetti of the Marches Polytechnic University in collaboration with NCX Drahorad.