Grape growers have begun setting up an online ordering service networking growers together. Grape Grapes aims to deliver biologically grown, ready to eat grapes to people’s homes. “We aim to be a supplier of an exclusive line of premium fruit,” says Black Knight Table Grapes owner and grower Richard Lomman. “The last two or three years early season grapes have not been very good. They’ve gone from being a specialty, or premium item that consumers sought out for $5-$10 a kilo, to a product sold for $2 per kilo that is often inedible.”
The new marketing initiative will supply 2kg boxes of grapes that have
been picked ripe, and fresh, and will be targeting growers in metropolitan areas; Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, this Christmas time when the season starts. “This year we’ll be making a push for Christmas time customers, but as the idea takes off we will hope to be selling all throughout the season,” says Mr Lomman. “I’m sure our network will go out to regional areas as well.” Each box will contain white seedless grapes, with a limited number of mixed which will have 30% Flame Seedless (red) grapes, and the rest will be a white Menindee Seedless variety.
been picked ripe, and fresh, and will be targeting growers in metropolitan areas; Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, this Christmas time when the season starts. “This year we’ll be making a push for Christmas time customers, but as the idea takes off we will hope to be selling all throughout the season,” says Mr Lomman. “I’m sure our network will go out to regional areas as well.” Each box will contain white seedless grapes, with a limited number of mixed which will have 30% Flame Seedless (red) grapes, and the rest will be a white Menindee Seedless variety.Grape Grapes will supply the public consumer as well as specialty grocers, farmers’ markets and wholesalers, who can all benefit form the convenience of online ordering, according to Mr Lomman.
“We seem to be in a ‘supermarket’ mentality with grapes right now, with bigger suppliers sending grapes to retailers when the average meets minimum sugar level requirements. This means much of the product is below the sugar requirement”
By setting up a pre-order system, Mr Lomman believes consumers will enjoy access to better quality fruit, and growers will be able to sell more of their produce, reducing waste, and getting better returns. “We want to bring the focus back to quality produce, and drive a fair return for our effort.”
The Indiegogo campaign, called ‘Premium, Fresh, Real tasty grapes’ aims to raise $52,340 by December, in time for the Christmas season.
To pre order a box, or support the campaign, visit the website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/premium-fresh-real-tasty-grapes#/story