The 2021 Italian table grape campaign has been - and still is - very complex due to variables related to sales, lack of labor and increase in the price of raw materials. FreshPlaza talked about it with Angelo Di Palma, member of the board at the Apeo association and legal representative of Fruitsland, an Apulian company specializing in the production and commercialization of table grapes.
Angelo Di Palma
"The campaign started late, so sales started around 15 days later than usual. This delay, combined with higher-than-average yields per hectare and a particularly aggressive supply from our foreign competitors, led to an availability that was not met by market demand, despite the lower quantities of other typically summer products."
"This situation contributed to prices 20-25% lower than in previous years, despite the fact that quality was exceptional also thanks to the good weather until late October. The lower prices, higher price of raw materials and a 30-40% increase in the price of electricity and fuel complicated the campaign further."
"The first figures suggest a further increase in the sale of seedless varieties. Specifically, white varieties seem to be the favorite, though red/black grapes and mixed packets are also growing."
As for packaging, Di Palma reports that the most popular solutions with the big retail chains are 500 gr punnets (both clamshell and heat-sealed) and 4.5 kg carry bags. Heat-sealed punnets seem to be more and more appealing to final consumers.
"Already at the start of the season, Italian grapes has to face competition with foreign productions from the Mediterranean basin (Egypt, Spain, Turkey and Greece). Competing overseas productions then reach the European market already in mid-October. As for sales on the domestic market, they will continue as long as we have produce available. Luckily, the Italian retail chains tend to prefer the domestic produce."
For further information:
Fruitsland
Via del Melocotogno, 3 - P. 1
70014 Conversano (BA)
(+39) +39 080 9671685
(+39) +39 338 3259579
[email protected]
www.dipalma.it