This Egyptian grape season has plenty of challenges. “Many Egyptian producers used too much ethephon for colouring the red grapes. This led to many batches with excesses on the market, which cannot be sold,” says Lucien de Wit of Sous Fresh. “All in all it is a problematic season for Egypt, because white grapes also disappointed qualitatively due to the warm weather. Next week the first Crimson grapes will be harvested in Egypt, and because they are easier to colour, we expect those grapes to be suitable. The Crimson grapes will arrive on the market in two or three weeks.”
As difficult as the Egyptian season was, the Italian season is off to a good start. “We have been receiving Sicilian grapes daily for about four weeks now. Quality is very good this year, the grapes are robust and look and taste well. Currently, price levels are acceptable as well, with selling prices around 2 to 2.20 euro per kilogram, which is resulting in decent sales. In about two weeks grapes from Puglia will arrive, and supply will increase sharply. Furthermore, in about two weeks we will also receive the first Sugraone from Italian greenhouses,” De Wit says. “You can see that Italian producers are focusing increasingly often on the cultivation of seedless grapes. Ultimately, I do not believe this is wrong. It is just allowing more room for seeded grapes.”
The grape supply from other countries is calm, according to De Wit. “Spain will enter the market with seedless grapes from the coast, to be followed at a later time by supply from inland, but I personally do not have programmes with those. Furthermore, the prospects from Greece are already looking good, but it is too early to say so with certainty. If it rains a lot at the end of July, it could cause a lot of damage for the grape cultivation. We certainly saw that last year.”
For more information:
Lucien de Wit
Sous Fresh B.V.
Venrayseweg 122D
5928 RH Venlo