As new green varietals continue to expand the grape market year over year, black grapes have become a rarer sight on retail shelves due to their decreasing demand from buyers. As breeders aim to maximize returns and predict demands, the black grape focus has been on a downward trajectory. As green and red grapes take top-shelf billing, Vanguard International wanted to pose the question: what lies in the future for the black grape?
"Black grapes are a beautiful color product – sweet, known for their dark blue-purple color, a delicious and healthy snack and rich in vitamins and antioxidants," a release from the company states.
"If you were a child of the 70s and 80s you might recall black grapes being the decor around a food platter, or the grapes with a bitter seed throughout." However, in recent decades, new varieties of black grapes were developed with a beautiful appearance profile, crunch and tasting experience. So where did demand go?
Black grapes are not widely accepted in retail, simply due to low demand and sales. They are not frequently purchased by consumers and therefore, breeders have not focused on them in the same way they have with green and red grapes. Additionally, with the ongoing process of testing and experimenting with new grape varieties, the classics are sometimes overlooked.
Black grapes are good for both growers and consumers as they are easy to grow, they transport well and are a healthy snack. Despite this, marketing budgets are often not allocated to black grapes, which creates challenges to entering and positioning within the retail market.
Looking ahead, Vanguard feels there is room in the grape category for black grapes, especially the new and exciting varieties recently developed by various breeders and predicts there is a future where black grapes make a resurgence.
For more information:
Andrea Bava
Vanguard International USA
Tel: +1 (778) 908-1764
andrea@blitzme.ca
https://www.vanguardteam.com/en/