Black seedless table grape consumption continues to grow on the continent and in the UK, and South African producers are rushing to meet demand for black seedless table grape with new plantings of Sugrathirteen variety, branded Midnight Beauty.
Increases in the product’s consumption in the UK and mainland Europe have led to a rise in plantings and exports of Midnight Beauty-branded grapes are expected to top one million 4.5kg cartons this season - making it the leading black seedless grape exported from South Africa, according to Sun World International LLC’s vice-president of international licensing, Johan Jooste.
The Sugrathirteen variety was bred in the early 1990s by Sun World International LLC, a California-based produce company, and introduced to international growers and marketers during the past decade. In addition to South Africa, it is now produced under licence by growers in the US, Chile, Australia, Portugal, Italy and Mexico.
Midnight Beauty-branded grapes are produced from late November through early March in all major growing districts of South Africa, including the early Transvaal and Orange River regions and throughout the Western Cape.
The fruit is available from South Africa through four licensed Sun World export-marketers, including Capespan Exports, Dole South Africa Green Marketing International, and The Grape Company.
