Harvesting of table grapes has begun in Australia's Sunraysia region and although yields are down considerably on last season, quality is good and the export outlook is positive.
"I started picking on Boxing Day with the Flame Seedless and today we started on the Menindee," said grower Barry Pedersen of Paringi farm Windtan.
"I'd say that yields are down by anywhere from 40-60 per cent across the district on early season varieties.
"Quality is good, although we've suffered a little bit in size because the heatwave was during cell division stage for the growth of the berries," he said, referring to the 10 consecutive days above 35oC the region endured in November.
Mr Pedersen anticipates he will start picking Midnight Beauty in around two weeks, before concluding with late-season varieties Crimson Seedless and Red Globe.
Although there had been fears before the harvest that the strength of the Australian dollar would be a hindrance to exporters, Mr Pedersen believes that this export season is shaping up as a strong one.
"There's still a world shortage of table grapes," he said.
"Even with our high Australian dollar, they're predicting our returns to be as good as last year if not higher."
Mr Pedersen believes a lighter-than-normal US table grape crop, and the fact that South Africa and Chile will use most of their fruit to supply European markets, has left Australia and Peru as key suppliers to Asia.
