Peru's table grape sector is undergoing a varietal replacement process. Two decades ago, most of the producers opted for the Red Globe variety, which allowed the country to position itself as one of the world's leading suppliers of this fruit. Nowadays, however, the markets demand other characteristics in grapes, as a result the national industry is now betting on new varieties.
Carlos Zamorano Macchiavello, the general manager of the Peruvian Association of Producers of Table Grapes (Provid), stated that there's been a substantial decrease in the hegemony of the Red Globe variety in table grape shipments in recent years.
In 2012, he said, the Red Globe variety accounted for almost 80% of Peruvian table grapes exports; in the current campaign, it accounts for less than half. In the 2017/2018 campaign, Peru has exported 285 thousand tons of table grapes (there still are two weeks left until the campaign ends), 132 thousand of which correspond to the Red Globe variety, i.e. 46.3%.
"The companies have opted to stop sowing Red Globe in some areas and they have adopted new grape varieties of grapes, mostly of the seedless kind. The companies that have good quality Red Globe crops continue maintaining them as this variety continues to have a market, good prices, good yields, and have a relatively easy field management," he said.
The Red Globe hasn't disappeared, but it's market share has decreased as the share of other varieties has grown. "Research and testing of new varieties continues and there will be ongoing changes. Now there are varieties with a royalty, and others that known as club varieties."
The representative of Provid also said there were approximately 50 grape varieties being grown in the country, some as trials and others which have already shown their good adaptation the country's agroclimatic conditions.
Some of the table grape varieties grown in Peru are: Crimson Seedless, Flame Seedless, Thompson Seedless, Sugraone, Autumn Royals, White Seedless, Sweet Celebration, Sweet Globe, Pristine, Jacks Salute, Arras (Arra 29, Arra 30), Scarlotta, Sweet Candy, Sweet Sapphire, and Early Swett, among others.
Source: agraria.pe