The California Table Grape Commission will be present with a booth at this week’s Fruit Logistica show in Berlin. “This is a global show that is attended by people from all over the world,” says Susan Day with Grapes from California. “Not only Europe, but also the Middle East and Asia are very well represented and that’s why it is important for us to be there.” California’s new grape season starts at the beginning of May, so this is a good time for the Commission to talk to buyers.
UK market is unique
“The largest volume of California grapes goes to Asia, which makes sense from a geographic perspective,” shared Day. The European market is important as well with volumes largely driven by the United Kingdom. In 2014, 87.5 percent of all California grapes that were exported to Europe, ended up in the UK. “The volume that goes to the UK presents opportunities in the rest of Europe,” commented Day. “The UK is just very unique in the way it focuses on the grape category.” It sources grapes from over 20 different countries while most nations limit the number of sourcing countries to five or less. “One of the reasons they purchase from so many different countries is the demand for year-round availability of three grape colors.”
New booth
“We have a new booth that has been designed with a large photograph of a California vineyard on the back wall so it appears as if you’re walking into it,” mentioned Day. The booth can be found in the US Pavillion, in Hall 23, #A-01a.
