The supply of Spanish seedless table grape is increasing as the summer progresses. "We started in week 25, but our volumes will peak in August and September and then we expect to finish between weeks 45 and 48," says Juan José Ibarra, from the sales department of Moyca, one of the leading Spanish table grape producers and traders.
David Mora and Juan José Ibarra, from Moyca's sales department.
"The weather has been ideal for the grapes, with not too high maximum temperatures and cool nights, unlike last year, when we had several heat waves at this time of year and many kilos were potentially lost," says his colleague in the sales department, David Mora. "Also, Spain has made the most of its early season, with some overlap with Egyptian grapes."
Moyca produced 75,000 tons of table grapes in the 2023 campaign and for this year it expects to reach almost 80,000 tons thanks to the introduction of new varieties and the expansion of the acreage, which has made it possible to start earlier and finish later, especially with the white grapes. 90% of their grapes are grown in Murcia, with some plantations also in Almeria and Badajoz. After that, they move on to imports.
The company has almost 50 commercial varieties in its portfolio. "Moyca remains at the forefront when it comes to testing varieties; a process carried out by breeders and our specialized technical team. The focus is on the taste, consistency and profitability of the grapes from an agronomic point of view, which is a major challenge, given the constantly increasing prices. Although there are now more companies producing it, we were pioneers with the production and marketing of the Cotton Candy. Moyca is also working on an exclusive basis with some varieties that are highly-appreciated by the most demanding customers. These continue to be marketed and have become a flagship for the company," says David Mora.
Ruby Rush variety in Moyca's fields.
Growing imports driven by the boom in the Spanish market
For several years now, Moyca has been working in the off-season to cover the demand from its clients during this period. "In the latest import season, we have doubled our business volume thanks to the trust of our clients and the increasing consumption of seedless grapes," says Juan José Ibarra.
"We have a great presence in regional supermarkets in Spain, which in recent years have been opening lines to keep this product on their shelves 365 days a year. Today, more than 90% of supermarkets sell imported products and we have been growing along with them. Shoppers in Spanish retailers are learning to distinguish the different varieties available and have a better idea of what they are looking for," he says.
According to Juan José, there is still plenty of room to continue growing in the domestic market. "Many chains already have special varieties, in addition to the fruit sold in bulk. Following the latest trends, which aim for greater convenience, we are working on a 150 gram snacking format."
Autumn Crisp variety.
However, any form of growth always entails challenges. The rising cost of living due to inflation is already being linked to a slight drop in the consumption of fresh produce. "We have indeed noticed this a little in table grape sales, because it is a higher value product compared to other fruits that can be considered commodities. Still, it hasn't been as bad as in the case of berries."
Export growth in Eastern countries
Moyca exports to more than 40 countries, including major grape producers such as Italy where, according to David Mora, there has been a major swift from seeded to seedless grape varieties, which are being marketed in very attractive formats.
Meanwhile, there has also been an increase in the shipments of Spanish table grapes to Asian countries, although those volumes are still insignificant compared to the ones handled in Europe. Nonetheless, exports this year will be affected by the current conflict in the Red Sea.
"At the moment, shipments to Asia can only be carried out by air at exorbitant prices, and therefore, in much smaller volumes," says Juan José Ibarra. "These markets are not taking large volumes, anyway, so it will be easy to find alternatives in, for example, Eastern Europe, where the demand is increasing significantly. Countries such as Poland, Romania, Lithuania, the Czech Republic or even Switzerland are traditionally markets for Italian grape, but they increasingly trust us and are ordering our product earlier," he says.
Sable variety.
"What helps Spanish table grapes stand out in the European market is the quality, service, logistics and wide range of varieties. That is especially the case for Moyca, because we can always offer the best options in white, red and black grape for each market at every stage of the campaign. We always strive for regularity and quality, because without this, you can't become a leader," they say.
For more information:
Juan José Ibarra
Moyca
Tel.:+34 968490848
Tel.: +34 689251843
[email protected]
David Mora
Tel.: +34 634 84 71 16
[email protected]
www.moyca.org