"EU: "No big dips in grape season as yet"

Direct Source International decided from the start, 2011, to focus on on three products. Better quality of a few products rather than less quality in a big selection, this is the philosophy of this company, run by Marnix van Fraassen, Jan van den Adel, Jan de Sterke and Marcel van der Sluis. Jan van den Adel talks about the European grape season.

"Up to now we can't complain about the grape season. The market is has not gone down the drain as it has in other years. The prices are not extremely high, but they are not dramatically bad either," according to Jan. "The Italian grape season which started with Victorias, is now continuing with Muscat grapes. Most retailers have these seeded grapes in their selection. Seedless grapes are available year round in 500gr packing, but from July until the end of November the seeded grapes are offered as a seasonal product."

"The Italian grapes have suffered from the heat. This year there will be a lot of average size grapes and the big sizes will be limited. Due to the good sunshine the grapes are in general a good colour which is preferable in the Southern countries. Northern countries, for example, Scandinavian countries prefer greener grapes. The question is how the weather will be in the coming weeks and if the grapes are suitable to market in Long Life packaging until the end of the season.

Brix 18.5 to 20.3

Alternative grapes at the moment are the seedless Thompson, mainly from Greece. "The impact of the seedless Italian grapes is limited. The Greek Thompsons determine the market in September and October. The Greek grapes have also been affected by the heat. Around ten days ago it rained, meaning that the end of open ground season is close and it is expected that the polytunnel grapes will soon start. The signals are that it will be a short Greek grape season."

According to the grape importer the trend in the market is more organised than in previous seasons. "Growers and exporters in Italy and Greece need to earn money and the importer's margins are under pressure, therefore they are not willing to take risks, where as in the past now and again a gamble was taken, there is no room for that now. This is also the case for imports from overseas.

The Brazilian season will start mid October.

For more information:
Jan van den Adel
Direct Source International
The Netherlands
www.direct-source.nl