The grape season has ended a few weeks ago, and despite some remaining challenges that were also present the year before, the overall season was actually rather positive, says Amit Chopde, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Chopde Farms and Exports: "The past grape season was quite positive for Indian exporters, especially after a difficult previous year. Exporters entered the season with cautious optimism, and fortunately, it met their expectations. The quality of the grapes remained good, and overall, the market was stable, giving exporters a much-needed boost."
© Chopde Farms
According to Chopde, the transit time has decreased significantly compared to the previous season, despite the issues surrounding the Red Sea having persisted. "The major challenge this grape season remained the shipping time, as vessels continue to reroute around the African continent, due to the Suez Canal situation. However, unlike last season, where transit times were severely impacted, shipping lines were better prepared this year. As a result, transit time has been reduced significantly, from 45–48 days last season to around 33 days this year, helping maintain better fruit quality upon arrival."
"Additionally, grape pruning was more evenly spread throughout the season, ensuring a consistent supply. This helped avoid oversupply or market saturation, leading to more stable pricing in European markets. Notably, Indian grape volumes were down by about 10% compared to last year, which also contributed to a well-balanced market."
© Chopde Farms
Chopde has seen improvements to the way grapes are packed, with a simple addition to the packaging: "A noticeable trend is the increased use of absorbent paper inside carton boxes. This helps manage excess humidity, especially important with the extended transit times. It's a small but impactful change that supports better quality maintenance during shipping. Thanks to a favorable monsoon forecast, farmers are optimistic about the upcoming season. Early pruning is expected with this in mind," he concludes.
For more information:
Amit Chopde
Chopde Farms and Exports
Tel: +91 98 230 86 907
Email: [email protected]
