The emergence of sweeter table grape varieties in Australia is reshaping the supermarket landscape, sidelining traditional varieties like the Thompson Seedless. New contenders such as Cotton Candy, Fire Crush, and Midnight Beauty are gaining traction alongside longstanding offerings.
Enrique Rossi is transforming his vineyard in Merbein, near Mildura in Victoria's northwest, transitioning from Crimson Seedless to proprietary varieties like Allison and Ivory. These proprietary grapes are defined by specific brands or names rather than individual varieties. Increasingly, these are becoming prevalent in the market.
Rossi stated, "The change is something that we've seen coming for the past few years, and this year it has hit the fan." He noted that approximately 70 percent of grapes currently under cultivation belong to newer proprietary varieties.
Rossi emphasized the high-risk, high-reward nature of shifting to proprietary table grapes, a movement he fears may impact smaller family farms disproportionately. "There will be a decrease in family-operated growers, and the smaller to medium ones will disappear or merge," he commented.
Australia maintains a net export stance on table grapes, with over 132,000 tons being shipped overseas, according to the Australian Table Grape Association. Growers like Joe Garreffa in Euston, New South Wales, are adapting to consumer demands by shifting away from traditional Thompson grapes. As the chair of the Robinvale & District Table Grape Growers Association, Garreffa explained, "There is increasing demand for these proprietary varieties and they have got a better taste, and that's what the consumer is chasing these days."
Table Grape Australia Association's Chief Executive, Jeff Scott, acknowledged the paradigm shift away from traditional grapes. He observed that supermarkets are pivoting toward newer varieties due to their higher yield and improved travel robustness. "Supermarkets are heading down the pathway of wanting newer varieties over traditional ones like the Thompson and Menindee," Scott explained.
Source: ABC News
