"The grape campaign is coming to an end. We expect to finish by the end of November, although many operators will try to extend the sale of the cold-preserved product until the Christmas holidays. The work in the fields is over, and there is still some Italia grape residue left, a variety that, especially in the final months of the harvest season, received more attention from consumers," said Donato Fanelli, coordinator of the OI grapes committee (the interprofessional organization Ortofrutta Italia). "The quantities were definitely not what we expected, the drop in production was on average 15-20% in almost all production areas".
Donato Fanelli
"Prices are in line with previous years, despite the increased costs related to the health emergency (+10/15%). The mild temperatures in recent weeks have favored the consumption of the product. The main varieties with seeds currently on the market are Italia, Black Pearl and Red Globe, as well as several other seedless cultivars. One of the biggest challenges in 2020 was the coloring of the black grapes. Due to the absence of significant temperature fluctuations, these grapes did not reach full ripeness, which is why the grapes are paler than usual".
"Overall, if we consider all the climatic and pandemic difficulties that have been weighing on our sector for months, the 2020 campaign produced a very excellent quality of grapes. The seedless cultivars, which currently occupy 60% of the surface area dedicated to grapes in Apulia and cover 40% of that of the country, have also maintained their excellent quality. With regard to seedless grapes, this year we noticed a particular interest in the varieties protected by royalties. A trend that seems to grow every year, more and more. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, the three main players of the supply chain (growers, producers and traders) need to collaborate to better control the distribution of these patented varieties, with more attention to the cultivars that are well suited to their territories and that perform better on the market".