QUEENSLAND table grape growers may suffer “spiralling prices” for the rest of the season, despite total harvest volumes having halved on last year, fears the chair of the industry’s peak body.
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Richard Lomman, chair of the Australian Table Grape Association (ATGA), said vendors were struggling to shift fruit at markets in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, as the bite of “unexplained” low demand takes hold. Mr Lomman said the trend was being felt across the fruit industry, quipping that consumers may have been too busy Christmas gift shopping to purchase their usual summer treats.
“It’s all fruit not moving – not just grapes,” he said.
This was despite an enormous drop in harvest volume.
“I think probably last year it was two million [10 kilogram] cartons. I think this year will probably be a million or a bit more,” Mr Lomman said.
Harvest has been full steam ahead at Emerald, with Queensland’s other early regions Mundubbera and St George kicking off more recently.
“Prices were very good for them to start with, but… as supply is increasing I think because volumes aren’t moving there’s probably a bit of pressure on price at the moment,” Mr Lomman said.
“I think we’ll see a spiralling price for rest of the Queensland season.”
“We’re hoping it will hold, but if fruit is not moving.”
St George grape grower Nick Bligh, of Bounty Grapes, began harvesting on November 26. He’s keen to cash-in on prices while they hold, after enduring a disastrous 2014-2015 season.
This week he’s seeing prices vary between $60-$75 per 10kg box for Flame Seedless, a variety he finished picking on Tuesday.
Last year the same variety started selling for $45 per box and dropped over the course of the season.
Mr Bligh said the high prices were welcome compensation for lower yields.
“The yields are down a bit because the size is a bit down than normal with the heat I think, but they’re well-coloured and nice and sweet,” he said.
Pickers were reaping about seven kilograms per Flame Seedless vine, down considerably from the 10kg yield last season.
The Flame Seedless are one of five varieties grown over 26 hectares at Bounty Grapes, joined by Midnights, Menindee, Red Globe and Crimson.
In January this year, Australia's largest horticulture producer, the Costa Group, shut down its grape farm near St George due to “changed industry and market conditions”.
Mr Bligh said he thought the exclusion of the large competitor was having a positive impact on prices.
