Table grape growers in the San Juan region of Argentina are getting ready to send their first pallets on Dec. 10, according to local newspaper Diario de Cuyo.

A 30% reduction in shipments is expected, the newspaper reported.

The first seedless grapes of the spring were destined for raisin production because they did not meet the market standards, according to industry experts, the newspaper reported.

Customers “will not forgive the decline of quality control of the (fruit) for fresh consumption in the last few years,” the website said.

The European Union is Argentina’s main market for table grape exports.

The fresh fruit market is more and more competitive, with bigger demands for quality and more competitors. Each carton of grapes that becomes raisins is because the shelf space was occupied by grapes from other nations such as Peru and Chile, the newspaper reported.

Enrique Ahún of Patagonian Fruit Trade said his firm plans to send 9,000 pallets.

“The grape is coming along well, in general, with good quality,” he is quoted as saying. “The winds practically had no effect on the Superior Seedless, but there was a little marking on the Red Globe variety.”

Photo: inta.gov.ar

Source: www.freshfruitportal.com