The table grape harvest will start soon in Murcia, at the usual time of the year and with somewhat lower volumes due to the impact of rainfall during the fruit setting. There is still uncertainty about how the market will respond, but the good results achieved by stone fruit are making the sector optimistic.
"In less than two weeks, we will start harvesting and marketing the first batches of Superior seedless white grapes and of the red Itumfifteen variety, in which Murcian producers have been betting heavily due to their organoleptic qualities and yields," says Antonio Caballero, manager of the company Frutas Torero, from Abarán, where the stone fruit campaign has already been completed and preparations are underway at the packing station for the start of the table grape harvest.
According to Antonio Caballero, "the abundant rains in Murcia took place during the fruit setting, causing some damages that will be reflected both in the quantity and the quality of the fruit."
“The truth is that there is a lot of uncertainty ahead of the campaign, because consumption trends have changed since the start of the current health crisis. However, there was also a lot of uncertainty before the stone fruit season and then we were surprised by the high demand and good prices that we've had. We are very satisfied with the results achieved in the stone fruit campaign after four bad years. This makes us optimistic about the table grape season, but for now, we remain cautious," says the producer and exporter.
"In any case, we expect great competition from Egypt, which is shipping more table grapes to Europe because the Chinese market is not working out for them. If the demand is good and the supply isn't too large, we shouldn't have any problems," he says.
Last year, Frutas Torero was one of the first Spanish companies, together with Murcia's El Ciruelo, to ship table grape containers to Vietnam. “The fruit arrived well and the customers were happy. We hope to continue growing little by little in this market,” says Antonio Caballero.
Last year, the protocol to export to China was also approved, but the heavy rains between the middle and the end of last season meant that the fruit did not have the optimum quality to be shipped to this distant destination. "We were about to start exporting to China, but now we hope to make the first shipments this campaign. It will still be a challenge, considering how things have gone for Chilean exporters, who saw their sales and prices fall this year, given that their season coincided with the most critical months of the pandemic; that is, February, March and April."
The Spanish table grape sector is working to soon gain access to Thailand and Taiwan. “The diversification of markets in Asia will allow us to decongest Europe. Fortunately, the cultivation techniques that we have today, together with the advances in post-harvest, packaging and logistics, is allowing us to reach these distant markets, where we only face the competition from American and Australian grapes and we believe that there is room for our product," says Antonio Caballero.
For more information:
Antonio Caballero Palazón
Frutas Torero
Avenida constitución 15.
30550 Abarán (Murcia). Spain.
T: +34 968 451 536
antonio@frutastorero.com
www.frutastorero.com
www.hortofruticolatopi.com