"Good grape month expected"

There are limited grapes available just now. "The Namibian grape season ran well, but South Africa is really behind and at the end of the season the quality of the grapes was not good enough to send to Europe, therefore, we started early with grapes from India," explained Michiel van Dijk from Hillfresh.

According to the importer, the outlook for Indian grapes is very good this month. "In particular, we are expecting large volumes in April. I expect that the market for grapes will remain stable. Prices vary for the types, white seedless lie between 1.50 and 1.60 Euro. The arrival of Chilean white grapes is limited which means they do not have a real role to play. We expect the arrival of Chilean red grapes to be much larger."

Michiel van Dijk

According the Michiel, the quality of the Indian grapes is good. "Growers have really developed in recent years and have taken great steps forward from the mrl problem a few years ago. "We continue to oversee production and over use of ethefon, which is used to limit problems with staining. The market now pays more attention to this and if they contain too much residue then they are not suitable for the European market."

Development of new varieties is, according to the grape buyer, sporadic. "There have been efforts but it is difficult for new varieties to break through. India mainly offer white Thompson grapes, and in the coloured segment, Sharat. From South Africa there is the red Crimson and white Thompson, the Sugraone grape varieties stand firm."

For more information:
Michiel van Dijk
Hillfresh
Tel: +31(0)180-898062
michiel@hillfresh.eu
www.hillfresh.eu