Chile And Peru join forces in grapes

Table grape industry organisations from Chile and Peru will meet for the first time at the 2024 Global Grape Convention to collaboratively seek solutions to the problems of the grape sector as well as provide market information.

The grape producing and exporting industry worldwide has experienced a process of change and stress marked by climatic factors, the Covid pandemic, logistical issues in origin and destination, and the cultivation of new varieties that have not achieved expected results.

For this reason, Chile and Peru, two world leaders in the production and export of grapes, have decided to take action on the matter, and will meet for the first time on 8 August, 2024 at the Global Grape Convention, in the Monticello Casino Event Centre in Mostazal, Chile.

The Fruits of Chile Table Grape Committee (formerly Asoex), the Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru (Provid) and Yentzen Group said they are seeking not only to jointly deliver and provide consequential and unique information for the market, but also to bring together the main retailers and importers in the world to seek collaborative solutions and confront the main challenge facing grapes globally ­– to increase and diversify consumption.

“The international table grape industry is at a defining moment,” warned Iván Marambio, president of Frutas de Chile. “With the explosive increase in global supply and lower growth in demand, a significant imbalance has occurred. So if we do not do something to increase consumption, there will be irreversible adjustments.”

Provid general manager Alejandro Cabrera, commented: “We consider it very important to communicate this in a very solid, very direct and realistic way, so that everyone involved in this sector is aware of it.

“Supply has increased, but demand has not increased at the same level, and we have to be responsible. If we do not act today, it will be very difficult for the business to remain sustainable and sustained over time.

“That is why we consider the Global Grape Convention important and powerful, since it aims to address the future envisioned for table grapes in these two largest supplier countries of Peru and Chile.”

Both organisations agree that the only way to achieve the objective of increasing demand is for the world’s leading producing countries to understand this challenge and act together. “We wanted to impart a commercial rather than technical perspective of what the last few seasons have been like and the opportunities for improvement,” said Gustavo Yentzen, CEO of Yentzen Group, the event organiser.

“The Global Grape Convention 2024 will unite these important associations from two relevant countries in the sector to generate collaboration and competitiveness.”