Spanish seedless grape production for the UK market in the south-eastern region of Murcia is running up to 20 days late.
Growers’ association Asaja Murcia reports the harvest started last week and output is expected to reach 100,000 tonnes from the 6,500 ha of vines in the region. Superior and Crimson are being packed already and only a small number of producers have seen their fruit affected by hail so far.
Rupert Maude of grower-exporter El Ciruelo said the main Sugraone crop is expected around 18-20 July, about 10 days behind an average year. “Production areas near the coast have had very good crops that have sold steadily. There will be a gap in supply of Sugraone between that production and Sugraone from the main Guadalentín valley area. Other varieties such as Prime will plug that gap.”
He warned against heavy price discounting. “There is a buoyant market out there so there is no need for unrealistic pricing.” âñ
