| connecting for better bunches |
November 2004
Growers introduce standard to stop sour grapes
The Queensland table grape industry has successfully introduced a minimum maturity standard on white seedless grapes in a bid to eliminate sour grapes from the market.
GrapeConnect, a special interest group within peak horticulture group Growcom, launched the 2004-05 GrapeConnect Pilot Standard with the onset of the current domestic harvest.
Consisting of 30 early season table grape growers and 13 wholesale partners, the GrapeConnect membership will officially launch the pilot standard next week with market meetings in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
Growcom Table Grape Industry Development Officer Anne Martin said the pilot standard represented a return to product testing in the central markets, with growers funding independent assessments of the maturity of their fruit.
"Businesses along the supply chain have united to implement a program that provides a disincentive for stakeholders to market immature product," she said.
"All grapes marketed by GrapeConnect growers are tested on farm and in market to ensure fruit sold is of a minimum sugar to acid ratio.
"Independent consultants conduct random sugar and acid tests on product on farm in the production regions, and on the market floor in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane."
GrapeConnect grapes are labelled at the box level to identify to buyers that the product adheres to the standard. Public relations activities and distribution of promotional material are coordinated to increase retail buyer awareness of the pilot program. Buyers can access a hotline to provide feedback and make inquiries.
Ms Martin said past seasons marred by large consignments of 'sour grapes' had seriously affected consumer confidence and resulted in considerable market downturn.
"GrapeConnect's objective is to increase industry ability and commitment to the production and promotion of quality early season table grapes," she said.
"We hope that all grape producers become part of the GrapeConnect program, no more sour grapes are marketed, and increased consumer satisfaction drives increased purchase size and frequency.
"We want GrapeConnect grapes to become a differentiated 'assured' product, and enable producers that are part of the membership to generate increased returns."
Ms Martin said most fruit and vegetable industries were readdressing marketing issues in the face of increased competition from convenience foods, other commodities, and imported product.
