Red Niagara Brazil grape

Brazil, the world’s third-largest fresh fruit producer is to launch during Fruit Logistica 2010 a relatively unknown table grape variety called Red Niagara, which has already “revolutionised” the national Brazilian market, according to distributors.

“The Red Niagara grape, a variation of White Niagara, has soft flesh and is sweet and very juicy,” Benassi sales director Luci Benassi said. “The Niagara has been exceptionally successful, taking over the national market over the course of a mere decade.”

According to Ms Benassi, the grape’s highly distinctive and unique taste is one of the main reasons behind its national success; a trend she is confident will be repeated worldwide.

This air of optimism is shared more than 30 Brazilian companies, members of Ibraf (the Brazilian Fruit Institute) and supported by Apex-Brasil (the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency), who will be present at Fruit Logistica to showcase their varied products.

The companies, including producers, exporters, associations and government bodies, will occupy 300m2 at the trade show, the eighth year in in which Brazil has participated.

Some 90 per cent of Brazil’s table grape export crop is produced in the country’s northeast region, the São Francisco Valley.

The Niagara grape variety, however, is grown further south in the state of São Paulo, with a harvest which peaks between December and February.