25–30% of Table Grapes in Kavala Lost to Mildew: Greek Exporters Bet on Quality

The table grape season in the Kavala region of Greece has been hit hard by downy mildew, following a spring of heavy rainfall. Greek exporter Grape Evolution reports losses in the area’s vineyards of between 25 and 30 percent of production, according to company founder and director Dimitrios Spanos.

Rain in May and June created the conditions for the disease to spread, but a dry, hot July–September period gave the fruit a good finish. “The remaining crop is progressing very well,” Spanos says, adding that harvesting of late varieties such as Sweet Celebration, Sweet Globe and ARRA 32 has begun.

The roughly 30 percent loss will be felt most in the very-late variety period, when demand is highest. Demand for Kavala’s early white grapes, harvested in July, is strong — and even stronger for the very-late varieties ripening in October.

Meanwhile, the company has invested in the past two years in technical advice for Kavala’s farmers, and this year successfully exported to British retail chains the new early white variety “Desert Pearl”, while the very-late white “Late Pearl” is expected to begin in early October. Spanos says the fruit reaches 24–25 mm in size fully naturally, without the use of hormones.

The biggest challenge in the coming weeks, according to Spanos, is the overlap of production from three Mediterranean countries: supply for several weeks could be far higher than demand as Italy’s, Spain’s and Greece’s table grapes coincide. Still, he expects good availability and continuity of supply for the next six weeks.

Source: Fresh Plaza