Volumes are building in Brazil, while 2025 marked the first commercial shipments from India
Production of Arra Cherry Crush, the vibrant red grape developed by Grapa Varieties, continues to gain traction.
In Brazil, as the second semester harvest approaches, Grapa says there is more fruit, more growers and increasing demand from major importers.
“Arra Cherry Crush is quickly becoming more than just a variety, it’s a trend,” said Georgios Bitsakos, head of brand marketing at Grapa. “Our job is to connect the dots: growers, marketers, importers, retailers, all pulling in the same direction.
“As volumes build in Brazil and India, there is genuine energy behind it. This isn’t about keeping people out. It’s about bringing the right people in. We actively encourage buyers to share their interest and needs with us, and we are happy to connect them directly with the sources.”
In Brazil, where Arra Cherry Crush is entering its third year of commercial production, Grapa says the variety has proven “exceptionally resilient, capable of withstanding long-distance shipping as well as other logistical challenges”.
Producers have reported good feedback from buyers in Europe and the US. With the new commercial protocol in place for Brazilian table grape shipments to China, Grapa has similarly high hopes for that market.
Renato Alves, commercial director at Coana said: “We’ve just come back from a trip to Europe, where we’re planning the programme for the second half of the year. Arra Cherry Crush has really caught up, with the recognition that there’s a big shortage of red grapes, it is very well positioned”.
Joney Rodrigues, export manager at Special Fruit, said the variety’s standout attributes put it ahead in terms of demand for red grapes. He said there has been a significant increase in demand for Arra Cherry Crush, largely due to the regularity and quality of deliveries last season.
Meanwhile, 2025 also marked India’s first commercial export season for Arra Cherry Crush.
According to James Cackett, specialist technical development manager at Tesco, “it is shaping up to be a leading mid-season red grape variety. With its beautiful cherry red colour and high Brix levels, strong bunch formation, it lends itself to the type of attractive grape our customers at Tesco search for. Tesco customers are searching for consistent, tasty, high-quality varieties, that deliver every time”.
