We are so happy to share again the latest news from SNFL Group. We have always been in the fields with you, growers, to develop the best varieties in the table grape industry, to improve your production based on the consumers’ needs. We do trust in your feedback to build a healthier future.

At SNFL Group, our purpose is to drive the creation of a new generation of healthier table grape varieties to contribute to the success of growers, distribution networks, and consumers around the world by aligning innovation with market trends.

As we are one of the world’s leading table grape R&D companies, that’s why, for over 20 years we have been breeding and developing new table grape varieties and licensing our products to all major table grape industries worldwide. Our Innovation Center in Spain has the most advanced technologies, and our multidisciplinary team of experts is formed of geneticists, molecular biologists, agronomists, and technicians of the highest level.

The 2021/2022 Peruvian table grape export season, which runs
from September to March, has ended with great results!

According to information obtained from Provid (Peruvian Association of Table Grape Producers), the 2021/2022 season closed with a total of 21,099 hectares of table grapes, of which 9,597 correspond to installed hectares of white varieties. An increase of 22% compared to 2020, and Peru is the world’s leading exporter of fresh grapes. This season (2022), an increase of 12% is expected for Peruvian grape exports. Fernando Cillóniz Benavides, the Peruvian engineer, projected that the marked difference between the previous and current season would be apparent by the end of March 2023, according to the interview conducted by PortalFrutícola.com.

We are so happy to share the latest news from SNFL Group again. We continue supporting you, our licensed growers, in the field, to always try to improve your table grape production and develop the best varieties for the consumers. We do trust in your feedback to build a healthier future, each day, every day. We have been multiplying the conversations in the last months, through global open days, congresses, technical visits, social media, etc., to make sure we coNNect with your expectations.

The table grape season will be closing with about 95 million boxes in California

The local table grapes industry in the United States is mostly concentrated in California, beginning the harvest season in Coachella Valley. The earliest varieties are harvested in May, and move towards the north of the San Joaquin Valley, sometimes extending the commercialization until January. With around 85,000 bearing estimate acreage of table grapes, including over 26,000 acres of SNFL’s varieties, mostly Ivory, Allison, and GreatGreen. In 2021, California table grape growers harvested more than 97 million boxes of grapes, including up to 75% of them for the domestic market.

Regardless of the logistic issues and increased cost of production, sending grapes from California worldwide has become more challenging but still worth it. Some Asian markets such as Vietnam, Japan, the Philippines, and Taiwan are niche markets willing to pay for high-quality product as are the varieties provided by SNFL.

California table grape growers have faced new challenges -unpredictable weather conditions such as uneven temperatures during spring, heat waves, cold temperatures, rain, and up and down temperature – that have forced growers to be more aware and attentive to what is happening at each phenological stage. SNFL North America team is providing a continuous support to the licensees to make sur they get the best varieties from their fields, being much precise with each application to make the most accurate decisions and to get the best performance of the varieties.

Regardless of the circumstances of the season, we are expecting a positive end to the harvest season, rounding a production of 95 million boxes.

In this context, we bring you the story of Ron Kazarian and his experience with the SNFL varieties, told in his own words.

Ron Kazarian and his son Karnig, from Mesa Ranch, in Fowler CA

“In 1967, after I finished up my tour of duty with the Peace Corps, I came home from Ethiopia to own a 160-acre vineyard with my brother, Mel. With great enthusiasm and no experience, I began the process of learning by trial and error. Almost 60 years later, every vine has been pulled and replaced with the most current varieties and trellis supports. My goal was to use the Sheehan varieties to achieve quality and quantity to sustain the profitability of the ranch.

Over the years, my experience with table grapes has tortured me with mealybugs, cracks, insufficient color, soft berries, mildew, rain, hail, repacks, bad arrivals, and probably a few more that have kept me awake at night. Fortunately for growers, field workers, packers, and consumers, the industry has moved to develop and improve varieties that are more farmer-friendly. On the whole, the Sheehan varieties have a larger natural size and require very little Gib.

Another benefit of the Sheehan red varieties, such as Allison and Timco , is the ease of color. For years, fighting color in my Crimson field was exhausting. Color and size are critical to achieving pack-outs that make or break a season.

As I approach my last few seasons, nothing has given me more pleasure than farming table grapes. There is a certain satisfaction in walking under the canopy to see the beautiful bunches hanging down the row like soldiers ready to go to market. In my opinion, there is no other permanent crop as challenging as table grapes. The risks and rewards are breathtaking. The progress of the industry has been phenomenal and the new varieties on the horizon will only make it better.”

We want to share with you again our updated news from SNFL Group, with the first edition of 2023 SNFL coNNect. We know that the 2022/23 season is challenging for all of us. That’s why, SNFL teams continue supporting you, our growers, and partners, to get your objectives and make the best agronomical decisions each day. This year we will be working to coNNect through our constant conversations, technical visits, newsletters, congresses participation, global open days, social media, etc…

The table grape industry is one of the most valuable horticultural industries in Australia, valued at more than $770 million in FY2021/22¹. It has an excellent geographical location to service Asian markets, a favorable climate of high sunshine hours, modern irrigation systems, high food safety standards, and advanced farming practices all contribute to successful table grape production in Australia and has helped the industry to become a significant player in global farming of world-class table grapes.

Unless this season’s maturity is behind 3 weeks to previous years due to the cooler growing degree units, the industry remains very optimistic compared to 2021 & 2022. This year for Australian producers, it has been a very challenging season with high rainfall (265% more than average in Spring) during the flowering period of October & November in the Sunraysia region, causing to major Downy Mildew infections.

The Australian industry is on the top 15 global producers. Table grape exports consist of 70% of total production and the remaining 30% is for domestic consumption¹. The 2023 season has started very strong with competitive domestic pricing compared to export sales due to low volume in the domestic supply chain for supermarket sales. This will change over the following weeks with the majority of table grape volume coming into the harvest window.

In terms of exports, the Australian table grape industry has been growing in recent years. The main export markets for Australian table grapes are Asia, particularly China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, along with the United Arab Emirates. China and Hong Kong are the destinations of 40% of the Australian exports, the other 60% is shared by other markets such as Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia²

Before the global pandemic, China’s buyers visited Australian farms and arranged purchases based on results, helping to build strong relationships between growers and exporters.
Over the last few years, the table grape industry has been through a period of expansion. Australia-wide new landholders are investing in existing table grape properties.

In this context, Cordoma International, one of our Australian licensed growers, has been farming table grapes for three generations for delivering premium table grapes that are unmatched in flavour and quality.

Overall, the Australian table grape industry is a significant contributor to the country’s agriculture sector and economy, and the industry continues to grow and expand both domestically and internationally.

Have you been to our Open Day in Mildura, Australia?

Sources:
1. Australian Table Grape Association: The table grape industry – Australian Table Grape Association (australiangrapes.com.au)
2. Trading Economist: Australia Exports By Country (tradingeconomics.com)
3. Produce Report: 2022/23 Australian Table Grape Production Forecast at 210,000 Tons, Exports To Rise | Produce Report