India has experienced favorable weather conditions ahead of their grape season. Amit Chopde, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Chopde Farms and Exports, is positive about the effects it’ll have on the quality: “India has made thorough preparations for a bumper grape season! We’ve been fortunate to experience favorable climatic conditions across all grape-growing areas this year. Fortunately, we haven't encountered any unseasonal rains since the pruning stage, and as a result there’s been a reduction in the use of pesticides. Also, plants get ample sunlight. All of this combined makes us hope for the best quality and MRL levels this season.”
Chopde does expect there will be an issue with the amount of available water during the summer, he explains. “This year due to the effect of EL Nino, India has had less rainfall than the average. Many areas will face a water shortage during the summer, so many farmers have pruned there vines earlier this year. In the late season, there is less pruning compared to previous years. So, as a result the season will start early this time and we may face a water shortage in the late harvest. This will lead into lower supply in the late season.”
As freight rates will be lower this season, Chopde expects higher volumes of grapes to be exported to the European market: “India is now one of the biggest players in exported grapes volumes to Europe and we have favorable shipping freight rates this season. With a good quality crop and reduced freight rates, India is planning to ship more volume compared to the previous two years. There’s very good demand from the Russian market for the early season grapes. Some exporters are already started shipping to Russia. Demand for colored grapes from the EU market is higher this year than it was last year.”
“Despite stricter quarantine norms in China, India is successfully shipping volumes to the Chinese market. Demand for Elongated varieties is increasing from China and South East Asian countries, year on year. Currently in November and December the early grapes have very high prices, as there are very few orchards available to harvest. However, as I stated before, there is more pruning in the early stage, so prices are going to stabilize in the first week of February,” Chopde concludes.
For more information:
Amit Chopde
Chopde Farms and Exports
Tel: +91 98230 86907
Email: [email protected]