"Hans Korsten: "Best time of the year"
Egyptian grape season starts
"It seems like the role of Egypt in Europe will definitely be less prominent in the month of May than it has been previously. As long as India can continue to control its low price level and the market continues to accept the lower quality compared to Egypt. This results in a shorter season and a lot of Egyptian producers are focussing more and more on all possible alternative markets including China," says Hans.
Hans Korsten
"Egypt has had another great growing season with an excellent ratio of cold night and warm days in the winter and a gradual build up to summery heats of above thirty degrees at the moment. There hasn't been rain for a while either, which should remain that way for the next few months, maybe even until November. There is no danger of nasty fungus and they will be able to use the minimum of crop protection, in which Egypt has a striking performance," says Hans. He experienced the frequent visits to the farms at this time, despite the many miles in the chaotic Egyptian traffic, as a party, which leads him to say: "The grape season is the best time of the year."
The cultivation company Agrostar is Frankort & Koning's regular supplier. "We have now been working with Agrostar for four seasons, and without putting others down, the company supply a hard to match performance each year, under the passionate and perfectionist leadership of Mokhles Harraz. In our trade 'consistency in quality' is the biggest challenge, but also the sign of a real professional and Agrostar is at lonely heights where this is concerned."
Mokhless Harraz and his religious Islamic gesture of gratitude for the top quality
The Egyptian season did not fit seamlessly into the Indian season, which has meant that considerable amounts have been sold in different packaging over the last ten days. The container transport has now started, with considerable arrivals over the last few and the next few weeks. "The gorgeous fresh top product with extra large grain cannot be compared to the Indian grape which was harvested over a month ago and is naturally showing some wear and tear.
It seems that the consumer is loving the grape at the moment. The Egyptian grape, and certainly that of Agrostar, deserves a prominent place in every fruit and vegetable department and is pure indulgence for the picky connoisseur," concludes Hans enthusiastically.
For more information:
Hay Janssen
Frankort & Koning
Venrayseweg 126
5928 RH Venlo
Tel.: (077) 389 72 15
Fax: (077) 382 61 34
www.frankort.nl
