Simple method to sweeten table grapes

The maturity level of Australian table grapes has long been an issue for the industry – and it turns out that the answer may be a simple adjustment to where in the bunch the grapes are picked before testing. “If we change the testing of the grapes used from the middle of the bunch to the tail end of the bunch that will guarantee that the fruit ends up being sweeter,” says Australian Table Grape Association Chair Richard Lomman.

 

The idea of testing from the bottom of the bunch came from the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, working together with the ATGA to enhance the sweetness and quality of commercially sold grapes. 

 

If growers adopt the new method, Mr Lomman says it will ensure a lot less wastage for retailers, growers and consumers. “The ATGA has been trying to get the right message out there. We can’t give specific numbers on waste reduction until we’ve gone through a season, but if quality is maintained we’ll get repeat purchases from consumers and the wastage will go down a lot.”

 

The ATGA has been calling for action, and educating growers and retailers about the right maturity level for grapes to be picked at. “We have problems with early fruit out of Emerald, and it affects exports too out of Sunraysia where there are a lot of growers who export table grapes,” says Mr Lomman. “If we could get maturity standards into export protocols as well it would make a real difference.”

 

After finishing further meetings with the major supermarket chains, Mr Lomman says they are now more responsive. “They understand the issue now, they’re very supportive. If small drops in specifications for white seedless grapes are allowed it can make a big impact on sweetness,” he says. “If the major retailers were to drop the specification for sugars from 16 to 15 from the middle of the bunch, for example, we’re going to have problems. But if they drop it from the tail end of the bunch, that would probably be ok for selling to consumers.”

At the moment the grape harvest is looking ‘lighter’ out of Emerald this season, but if the new testing is in place the crop should be high quality, according to Mr Lomman.