Arturo Hoffmann, CCO of the Talsa Group, shares his vision for the company’s new venture, Talsa Grape Farms
What is Talsa’s outlook for the 2026/27 table grape season, both in terms of the crop and the markets?
Arturo Hoffmann: This season we’re facing significant uncertainty due to the potential impact of El Niño in South America and uncertainty about when the Northern Hemisphere harvest is likely to end. Peru is experiencing temperatures at least 3°C above historical minimums and maximums and this is affecting fruit development, both in the north and south of the country. At the same time, harvests in California, Italy, and Spain are generally running ahead of schedule. Together, these two factors make this a very challenging season in terms of planning.
At Talsa Grape Farms we expect to begin harvesting at our Ica farms during the second half of November – some 15 to 20 days earlier than originally planned. We anticipate a similar situation in Pisco, although it is too early to be certain, as the harvest there is scheduled to run from late February through to late April.
As for markets, the 12.5 per cent tariff imposed by president Trump naturally drives us to seek alternatives outside the US. But given that it is our most important market and we have supply commitments with retailers, it will be difficult to reduce the proportion of fruit destined for that market below 40 per cent.
Europe remains a key destination for Peruvian grapes. How do you foresee demand evolving during the upcoming season, and what opportunities or challenges do you see in an increasingly competitive and demanding market?
AH: I believe that there is significant scope to further develop the market for Peruvian grapes in Europe – particularly in white seedless varieties – provided we can supply the right quality in packaging formats tailored to specific customers in both the retail and wholesale channels. We are highly competitive during the November-May window.
Europe is a crucial market for Talsa’s other products, and we are seeking to actively develop our presence with grapes by identifying the right channels and strategic partners for our varietal portfolio throughout our five-month commercial window.
The industry continues to face considerable challenges, such as climate changes, increased pest pressure and rising production costs. How is Talsa responding to this scenario?
AH: Operational efficiency and scale are two clear objectives for our agricultural projects, including Talsa Grape Farms [the dedicated table grape venture that forms part of the Talsa Group]. Additionally, we aim to gain a deep understanding of the outlook for each species and variety across different markets so that we can create maximum value for our customers. Regarding costs and resilience against the factors affecting all producers, we must be efficient; therefore, operational scale and professionalism are key. To maximise the revenue generated by our agricultural operations, we need to clearly understand the value we provide to customers compared to their other alternatives and strive to be the best suppliers.
Varietal renewal and investment in technology continue to transform the table grape industry. What projects is Talsa currently working on, and how are new varieties, investments in field and post-harvest operations, and other innovations contributing to improved business quality and efficiency?
AH: Talsa Grape Farms is one of the few companies exploring the March-April harvest window in Peru. This period requires careful management regarding field location to avoid the high risk of pre-harvest rainfall. The goal of this strategy is to offer a consistent fruit supply over five uninterrupted months. Furthermore, we work closely with the breeding companies – our key partners – in our strategy to generate the greatest possible value for our customers.
How important is the Chinese market for you and how is the improvement in their domestic production and quality affecting Peru’s commercial window in that market?
AH: China is currently a small market for Peru, partly for the reasons mentioned in your question but also because the dynamics of the Peruvian grape industry have shifted. In 2016/17, China was Peru’s second-largest market, accounting for 20 per cent of our export volume. Peru’s table grape output back then was half what it is today, and 50 per cent of that was made up of the Red Globe variety. China’s domestic production directly impacted Red Globe, and it has clearly hit green varieties as well – although these are the only ones finding a foothold in the market today.
We would love for China to play a bigger role within our export portfolio; we are confident this can be achieved through a combination of quality, market timing, and finding the right channels and customers, and at Talsa Grape Farms, we are working hard toward that goal. We fully embrace market diversification and are striving to grow in all secondary markets. Whenever a new market emerges, we do not hesitate to push for opportunities to secure business that can serve as a foundation for future growth.
