March 11 2011, 08:10 Fruit-Inform

Global prospects of table grapes

According to Fruit-Inform Project, table grapes currently have rather good prospects of development which can be as well used by Ukrainian producers.

Global table grape production has had growth trends in recent years; however, demand for grapes has been growing more rapidly. The most significant production increases were registered in the Southern Hemisphere where Chile and South Africa dominate. Production of this fruit has been developing also in Argentine, Peru, Uruguay, and Brazil.

At the same time, growth of freight costs increases prices for table grapes shipped from the Southern Hemisphere to Europe that creates opportunities of development of local production as the margin is rather high in this business. Besides this, demand for table grapes grows in producing countries of the Southern Hemisphere and developing countries. For example, Brazil has practically abandoned the export market as local consumption is growing very rapidly.

“We expect that table grapes will gradually take away the market share of apples, bananas, and citrus in many countries of the world due to higher availability of new varieties with high taste qualities. Grapes are also easier-to-eat than, for example, citrus fruit”, Andriy Yarmak, Head of Fruit-Inform Project, tells.

Currently the interest to table grape production is actively shown by Moldovan producers. Ukrainian farmers are not so active due to Ukraine’s problems with spring frosts. However, as anti-frost technologies are developed, the interest to table grapes will be reviving. In particular, nowadays only small-scale farmers in Crimea and other southern regions are engaged in growing of grapes in Ukraine. At the same time, the interest to table grape production is being displayed already by large farms.