"July is not the best month for Spanish grapes"

The table grape campaign started with high prices (although not exorbitant) in the Spanish market, according to Miriam Cutillas, of the Alicante-based company Uvasdoce, who affirms that, at present, these remain at similar levels as last year. "In Spain, July is not the best time for the consumption of grapes, mainly due to great competition with other summer fruits, such as melon and watermelon or stonefruit. September is usually the best month for grapes."

It remains to be seen how the market will react to this year's drop in the production, as according to Miriam Cutillas, the harvest of mid-season table grape varieties in Valle del Vinalopó will record a drop of around 25% due to the impact of powdery mildew.

"Right now, we are working with four grape varieties, two with seeds and two seedless, although still with small volumes, which are mainly going to the domestic market. There is demand in Europe, especially considering that Egypt and Morocco finished earlier and suffered quality problems. Even though we are working with some chains in France and Germany, for now our supplying national distribution chains remain our priority. In the first week of August, when we'll begin having more volumes, more of our shipments will go to Europe."

According to Miriam Cutillas, "there is much competition with Italy in Germany, where they have a significant market share. In France, there is not as much pressure from Italy, while in Spain, Spanish retailers prefer the domestic product."

With plantations located in the Valle del Vinalopó, Uvasdoce has managed to start the table grape campaign over a month in advance.

"This year we will market 6 new ARRA seedless varieties; three red and three white. We already have, therefore, 16 different varieties of table grapes in our 200 hectares devoted to the fruit's production. In the past, we started harvesting grapes with the first Crimson in August. Now, with our innovative program, we have managed to market the first grapes by the first week of July," she affirms.

"Every new variety that we acquire is seedless, but we have kept varieties with seeds such as the Victoria, Red Globe, Ideal and Aledo. Supermarket chains are demanding more and more seedless grape every year."

Uvasdoce has planted about 20 new hectares with a new program of late varieties which will become commercial varieties next year.

At the next edition of Fruit Attraction, in Madrid, the company will arrive packed with innovations. "We are changing the design of all our packaging formats and redesigning our second brand, La Ballena. At the next Fruit Attraction, we'll officially launch our new product for New Year's Eve."

More information:
Miriam Cutillas (Marketing Manager)
UVASDOCE
Ctra. Monforte-Agost km. 6,9
Partida de las Norias n.º 188. Spain
T: +34 965 620 125
M: +34 659670964
info@uvasdoce.com
www.uvasdoce.com