"Italy: "Lively demand and high prices for seedless grapes"

The campaign of grapes from Apulia will be shorter but more profitable. "There is less produce available than last year and less fruit will arrive from Brazil and Peru, so we are expecting a good end to the seedless grape season," explains Nicola Giuliano (in the photo), co-owner of Giuliano Puglia Fruit together with his brothers.

"At the moment, demand for Crimson and the other seedless varieties is strong from Anglo-Saxon countries, and the UK in particular. The fact that there is less produce available means the campaign will end 20 days early."

"The lack of produce means operators no longer need to push special offers. Supplies are regular so there is no need to export to poorer countries to finish off the excess."

"Our seedless grapes are doing very well in Germany, Austria and UK -where we mainly sell to retailers - this includes wholesalers in Belgium, Netherlands and France. We now ship to Spain and demand is also good in Italy."

The Russian question
"The ban had a strong psychological impact but actually the fresh produce market is a communicating vessel system: the countries now supplying Russia have freed up other markets for us."

"The EU funds to help those affected by the ban are insufficient and will not actually make any difference. I never liked this kind of help, I would have preferred if the €165 million had been destined to the Taranto or Bari port or to help ship containers overseas. This way, we would longterm help instead of only during the crisis."

Contacts:
Giuliano Puglia Fruit
SP 65 km 4,8
70010 Turi (BA)
Tel.: (+39) 080 4771540
Fax: (+39) 080 4771524
Email: nicola@giulianosrl.it
Web: www.giulianopugliafruit.it