On Thursday, April 4, 2019, at the Organization of Producers Agorà Metaponto (in Matera), a meeting with several farmers from Apulia and Basilicata was held. The goal was to present some new varieties of table grapes, and also to provide more tools that allow producers to adopt the right variety choices.
"Having a program of varietal improvement on new selections of table grapes, in particular seedless grapes, we are here to present to producers and the world of production, both some new cultivars recently patented and those under registration". Thus says Alberto Mastrangelo, commercial director of Grape & Grape Group, the Apulian company that works in the research, production and marketing of table grapes. His company was born to contribute to the change of perspective that the territorial system of production and marketing needs for this sector.
Alberto Mastrangelo, commercial director of Grape & Grape Group.
"In addition to the 3 varieties already patented, Apulia, Luisa and Fiammetta, we have other 5 new selections. Among these, 2 are in the process of registration, Aisha and Musa. The first (varietal abbreviation GGGR01A) is a red seedless, consistent and medium early. The bunch is cylindrical, slightly winged. It has a narrow elliptical berry shape -18-22 mm - and a good pedicel attachment. The Brix degree ranges between 17-19%, while productivity and conservation are still under evaluation. Musa (varietal abbreviation GGGB01S), on the other hand, is a seed variety with a neutral, crisp flavour, with a conical bunch, a cylindrical berry (17-21 mm) and firm flesh. Known for its excellent shelf life, the Musa has a Brix degree that ranges between 17-19%.
"Grape & Grape Group boasts a unique and exclusive commercial strategy, with a strengthening of the product through targeted branding solutions, in order to differentiate the offer and meet the demands of different markets. To date, we count about 320 hectares for the 3 patented seedless varieties - Apulia, Luisa and Fiammetta - with a cultivated area of 96% between Puglia and Basilicata, 10 hectares in Sicily and one hectare in Sardinia (155 hectares of Apulia, 120 hectares of Luisa and 45 hectares of Fiammetta). In the last campaign, we marketed about 300 tons of product, volumes not so significant, but already increasing next year and that will allow us to complete a perfect supply chain: research, production and marketing".
"The novelty is the realization of an experimental field - between Polignano and Conversano - that will allow to visualize the new selections to all the interested producers. Experimental not only for the way of working the soil, but also for the tests on new rootstocks. Our goal is to make this experimental field the best showcase, in order to concentrate all the developments of new genotypes that we are carrying out. Research does not allow for breaks".
Giuseppe Tagliente, board member of the OP Agora.
At the end of the meeting, Giuseppe Tagliente, table grape producer and member of the board of OP Agorà, stated: "In the wine panorama of table grapes, it is increasingly difficult for farms to choose which cultivar to adopt and with which business partner to enter into agreements. The past campaign was very difficult, both from a production and a commercial point of view. The rains between July and August have compromised the quality of the product. Therefore, it is important to take part in these information and training meetings, to know from the beginning which variety to choose, based on soil and climate conditions, geographical position and resistance, avoiding the adoption of cultivars that are proposed to us by other hemispheres".
Contacts:
Grape & Grape Group
Via delle orchidee, 20
Rutigliano (BA)
Tel.: (+39) 346/5341219 - Alberto Mastrangelo
Web: grapeandgrape.it
O.P. Agorà
Viale Europa, 64
Metaponto (MT)
Tel.: (+39) 0835/745658
Web: www.opagora.it