Grape supplies in a squeeze

Availability of red and white grape on the UK market is tightening as different sources worldwide fail to dovetail as hoped.

One importer told FPJ: “Chilean supplies of red grape into supermarket programmes were all finished by last week and they have not really met as closely as we would have liked with Egyptian, so everyone is running around a bit trying to get airfreight. Prices were already quite high because white grape prices are strong, but this is keeping them up.”

White grapes have been suffering their own supply issues, as Indian fruit came to a close a little earlier than expected and importers have been looking to source Egyptian alternatives.

Packers are hoping that when Morocco comes on stream there will be some let up in the situation in a couple of weeks’ time.