UK-based fresh produce importer Mack Multiples welcomed international table grape growers to the Fresh Produce Centre in Paddock Wood, England last week, for a preview event that saw Giumarra Vineyards Corporation and Grapa Company present the results of their grape breeding programme and display 18 new varieties.
Giumarra's John Giumarra and Grapa’s Rafi Karniel were on hand at to discuss the development of the new grapes, known as the ARRA varieties, with the first now released for commercial production.
The development programme was tasked with finding red, black and white grape varieties to rival the very best available in terms of both flavour and appearance, Mr Giumarra and Mr Karniel noted, with the range also offering benefits in terms of yield, cost, season extension and storage.
'My uncle Sal and his friend Shachar are farmers at their heart, not menin white coats working in a laboratory,' said Mr Giumarra when explaining the integrity behind the programme that developed ARRA15. 'They know what farmers need, and anything that’s not field-friendly or labour-friendly gets discounted from the programme.'
Grapa is now tasked with the worldwide marketing of the varieties, with extensive commercial trials arranged by Mr Karniel evaluating the performance of the gapes in conditions away from California. Material availability is now said to be good, with licenses to grow these ARRA varieties now up for negotiation.
Indeed, the event coincided with the arrival of commercial volumes of California-grown ARRA15 at Mack in the UK, a white grape with eating appearance qualities to rival Thompson, but with lower costs of production.
'As part of their continuing quest for innovation, the grape team at Mack Multiples have been watching the development of this breeding programme for some years now,' Mack said in a statement. 'Given their worldwide grower reach, their agreements with the ARRA partners and their UK retail contracts, they have been able to introduce many growers to the programme.
'The results are clear as Mack is providing both grower and retail customer with superb first-to-market opportunity on releases such as that seen this week with the commercial availability in the UK of ARRA15.'
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