The Indian grape season is wrapping up to a close. According to Amit Chopde, CEO of Indian fresh produce exporter Chopde Farms and Exports, the season has been quite successful, and was extended as well.
“Our company had a highly successful grape season overall. We were pleased with both the volumes and quality of the grapes harvested. The season extended from early January to the end of April, giving us the opportunity to supply fruits to the market until late May. This longer season allowed us to meet the demand and maintain a steady supply. Despite the higher volumes, we experienced a stable market throughout the season. This indicates that the market absorbed the increased supply without causing significant fluctuations or challenges. We’re excited to report that we’ve exported more than a 100 containers to Europe this season and that’s our first three digit volume figure!”
Chopde Farms exports most of its grapes to European countries. Chopde states that export to Russia has been smoother this year, despite the ongoing conflict. “The European market holds significant importance for the export of Indian grapes. Our company, Chopde Farms, has witnessed strong demand for mixed grapes from the UK and European supermarkets this season. Additionally, we have observed an increase in demand from Russia and South East Asian countries. Due to the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, we were sceptical about trade with Russia, but this season there are smoother operations as compared to last year.”
When looking at new potential markets, there is one country that really jumps out for Chopde: “The Canadian market is emerging as a potential opportunity for Indian grapes, and we’re actively exploring possibilities to tap into this market. Overall, while Europe remains the most important market for our grape exports, we’re also expanding our reach and exploring new avenues for growth, such as Canada. Grapes export volumes from India have seen a significant increase compared to the previous season. This year, the country has exported approximately 6% more volumes than the previous year. The favorable currency exchange rates and lower freight rates have played a crucial role in driving this growth.”
Although India had to deal with a lot of rain and hail, the weather did not really impact the quality of the grapes, Chopde states: “The frequent unseasonal rains this year did have some impact on our grape season. One of the notable effects was a slowdown in the packing process for a certain period of time. However, it is important to note that the quality of the grapes was not significantly affected despite these rains. One advantage we have at Chopde Farms is our extensive network of farmers spread across a large area. This enables us to source grapes from multiple locations, ensuring a consistent and steady supply. Despite the challenges posed by the unseasonal rains, we were able to fulfill our supply commitments due to the robustness of our farmer base. While the unseasonal rains did cause temporary disruptions, our ability to maintain a steady supply helped us navigate through these challenges and fulfill our obligations to customers.”
Indian growers are cultivating more Crimson grapes than Thompson nowadays, says Chopde: “In addition to the ongoing trials with different grape varieties, there is a noticeable shift among growers in India from the traditional Thompson variety to the Crimson variety. This shift is driven by the increasing demand for color varieties, particularly in European markets. The Crimson variety offers attractive color characteristics and has gained popularity among both growers and consumers. As more growers transition to cultivating Crimson grapes, it’s anticipated that India will be able to supply a significant volume of color varieties, satisfying the demand in the European market.”
“This shift towards color varieties reflects the industry's adaptability and willingness to explore new market opportunities. It also highlights the potential for India to establish itself as a reliable supplier of colored grapes in the coming years,” Chopde concludes.
For more information:
Amit Chopde
Chopde Farms and Exports
Tel: +91 98230 86907
Email: amit@chopdefarms.com