The first Apulian table grapes of the season were officially harvested on 12 June 2025, in the province of Bari in southern Italy's Apulia region. As has been the case for some years now, the Star Light variety is leading the way. This seedless red variety has a distinctive muscat aroma and is particularly popular in the Italian market due to its sweetness and crispness.
Giacomo Grande, a consultant agronomist at Grape Evolution/Fresca Group, confirms the positive start to the campaign, emphasizing that the variety is performing well in terms of quality and yield. "The harvest started with excellent results in terms of yield per hectare and Brix degree. Star Light is now a globally widespread variety - from South Africa to Spain, via Greece and Italy - but the Apulian crop has added value, which is recognized by the market."
Currently, most of the harvested grapes are intended for the domestic market, where demand is increasing for seedless red and white grapes. The Prime variety, along with the Star Light variety, is a seedless white grape with the same ripening period. It is among the first to arrive on Italian tables. Both varieties are part of the Grape Evolution program developed by the Volcani Center in Israel.
"The muscat flavor is what makes Star Light so recognizable and popular. Customers are attracted to the early red grapes, which are in high demand as soon as they arrive on supermarket shelves," Grande adds.
The increase in competitiveness of the Italian supply chain
After Sicily, it is Apulia that further solidifies Italy's position as a supplier of fresh grapes for over six months of the year, from June to December. This gives Italy a significant competitive advantage over countries such as Egypt and Spain, which have historically dominated the European market with their early production. Buyers recognize Italy as a more stable and reliable alternative to overseas products. The quality is high, the season is long, and demand is growing. "Currently, prices are high, but this is justified by the substantial increase in production costs," explains the agronomist consultant.
From a competitive standpoint, Grande claims that internal comparisons between Italian regions do not pose a significant threat due to the natural production timeline in Sicily and Apulia. However, the situation with Egypt's early fruits is more critical. They enter the market at the same time as Italian early varieties every year. "Egypt remains the main competitor during the initial months. We'll see how the markets respond, but it's evident that Italy has the necessary tools not only to defend its position but also to strengthen it.
After Star Light and Prime, the campaign will continue with Millennium and other seedless cultivars to be harvested in the coming weeks.
Article and cover photos provided by Giacomo Grande
For more information:
Giacomo Grande - Agronomist Consultant
Grape Evolution/Fresca Group
+39 348 517 5102
[email protected]