Frutas y Hortalizas
Sep. 4, 2023Italia: 30% menos de producción de uvas en campaña 2023/24
The Sicilian table grape season is halfway through. The 2023 campaign was unusual, especially in terms of production: it started about two weeks later than usual. It usually starts in May with the early greenhouse crops and ends in December with the late varieties. This year, however, there is a strong risk that production will end before the end of autumn, with production down by at least 30%. This is certainly an underestimate compared to the same period last year. The trend will be identical for the other varieties that will follow.
If last year was a year of high production with less than excellent quality, this year has been a year of physiological rest for the plants, which have suffered from two years of drought and high temperatures and have produced less fruit. In addition, some parcels, especially those that were not covered, suffered from downy mildew caused by the rains in May and June, leading to further shortages. In the first phase, the market was damaged by the early harvest, which affected the value of the product. Subsequently, with the lack of product on the plantations, the market also rebalanced in terms of price. The current season is showing much better prices than last year, with average producer prices between €1.00 and €1.10/kg and in some cases higher. However, consumption has been low so far. Fortunately, this has been compensated for by the lack of product, which has kept prices in balance.
The 2023 campaign for Apulian table grapes will see a drop in production of around 30% due to the spread of downy mildew and a consequent increase in production costs of at least 20-30%. What makes the current season unusual, however, is the unsatisfactory selling prices for seedless varieties, which were expected to be higher, given the change in buying habits for seedless grapes across Europe.
One grower reported: “Whereas last year Victoria grapes were sold in the field for 0.60-0.70 €/kg, this year peaks of up to 1.20 €/kg have been achieved. Seedless varieties are being quoted at less than €1.00/kg. It is a bizarre commercial situation that is causing confusion and a pause for thought.” In Apulia, no less than 50% of the seeded vines have been uprooted in the last two years, bringing about the long-awaited and much-needed varietal renewal. The current season has therefore seen a double reduction in production: that caused by the combination of adverse weather conditions and that caused by the uprooting carried out last year, which resulted in an unexpected shortage on the supply side and a consequent increase in prices.
Red Globe confirms its position in the viticultural sector. Although it is a seeded variety, it is an international grape that is well known and appreciated all over the world. It is also an easy variety to grow, which is a plus. The season looks promising with current selling prices three times higher than last year.
EastFruit/September 01, 2023
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