The table grape season is underway with good sales and higher prices in Murcia, Spain's largest producing area (followed by Alicante). Unlike last year, when there was a lower production, this year's harvest is normal.
We talked to Elena Núñez, of the commercial department of Campo de Blanca, who told us that the quality is very high this year, despite the high temperatures. "The intense heat is slightly delaying the start of the table grape campaign. We have to wait another week for the harvest to kick off, as we need a contrast of heat during the day and cold temperatures at night for the fruit to reach adequate Brix levels. Still, the quality won't be affected."
"In week 28 we started marketing the first Superior white seedless grapes. The cycle has been somewhat shorter than usual, which, together with the gap in the market, has very positively affected prices. Egypt was still finishing with lower volumes than usual when we started and the markets were waiting for Spain's production. In previous years we've had to delay the harvest due to low prices, but this year we are having a very good start," affirms Elena Núñez.
Increasingly fewer grapes with seeds planted in Spain
There is a gradual shift in the industry from grapes with seeds to seedless, given the preferences of the European market, the main destination for Spanish table grapes.
"There is still a market in Europe for table grapes with seeds, but only if they arrive with a very good colour. If there's some oversupply or the fruit has less colouration, then it has to be shipped to more distant destinations. Furthermore, it is very difficult to compete with Italian grapes with seeds, as their growers truly optimise production costs. These circumstances are causing many Spanish producers to question whether it is still advisable to continue growing grapes with seeds," she explains.
Germany prefers baskets
Frutas Campo de Blanca mainly exports its seedless table grapes to the UK and the Netherlands, "high consumption markets for seedless grapes", as well as shipping smaller volumes to Germany and Denmark. According to Elena, "Germany often asks for grapes to be packed in baskets, which entails a higher cost for us."
UAE, the alternative to Russia for grapes with seeds
As far as table grapes with seeds are concerned, the harvest of the first Red Globe has started this week, although the number of kilos available is still small.
"We'll have to see where we can export them, given the loss of the Russian market, which makes things more difficult," says Elena Núñez. "At the moment, the UAE market is the fastest growing for us, and they also pay better prices than, for example, Algeria, currently one of the largest destinations for Spanish grapes with seeds. The Algerian market is interesting for Red Globe grapes with seeds, but they are always looking for the cheapest prices, normally below the Euro. It is a country with a lower purchasing power."
