SA grape deal helps Indian growers

South African table grapes are of such high quality that Indian growers have just decided to import 16 varieties from SA, which will be planted next season. The new varieties, which include red, black, white and seedless, will be diseaseresistant, require less pruning and have minimal pesticide use. “These plants will be developed in less than three months,” said Ashok Gaikwad, president of the Maharashtra State Grape Growers’ Association – which had been faced with a declining acceptability for Indian table grapes in international markets in recent years, according to freshplaza.com. Indian varieties take around four months to develop and require a lot of pruning. The association had been looking for varieties that could be developed in less than three months – and SA table grapes fitted the bill perfectly. The SA Table Grape Industry (Sati), which hosted Indian association members on their SA visit, is extremely pleased with this deal, according to executive director, Elaine Alexander. And it won’t have any effect on SA’s table grape exports. “These Indian growers are in the northern hemisphere,” she said, “and, although the grape seasons overlap a tiny bit, they’re effectively producing in our off-season – so there is no impact.” European countries in 2012 rejected Indian table grapes after chemical residue was found in consignments. “It’s best that we improve the quality of grapes globally,” Alexander told FTW. “Improved standards are good for the table grape industry as a whole.”