This week, we bring you updates fresh from the vineyards of the northern hemisphere where the season is well underway.
On July 23rd, AVI, the territorial ARRA™ representative in Europe, held an ARRA field day in the region of Puglia in Southern Italy. Organized by AVI, the field day was attended by Puglian agronomists, traders and producers and by Barbera International, together with their forty producers from Sicily.
The participants toured the beautiful ARRA Sugar Drop™ (ARRA 30) vineyards in the Puglia region. As AVI agronomist, Maurizio Simone explains, “During the field visits, particular attention was given to ARRA Sugar Drop (ARRA 30), a variety that already in 2019, under AVI, counts over forty-five hectares in production. This area will double in 2020. Many say that the ARRA Sugar Drop (ARRA 30), having a similar production schedule, can become a substitute for Victoria grapes.”
AVI general manager, Carlo Lingua, sums up the future of the ARRA varieties in Europe as follows, “The growth trend in the markets is for premium quality grapes, while the standard quality grapes are frequently over-supplied. As the market requires more and more quality grapes, especially seedless grapes, the entire ARRA™ catalogue of varieties is positioning itself very well on the market due to the varieties’ great characteristics such as high brix, crunchiness and productivity.”
Haciendas Bio, one of Europe’s leading organic fruit producers, are seeing an excellent season with their ARRA Passion Fire™ (ARRA 29) and ARRA Sugar Drop™ (ARRA 30).
Haciendas’ R&D Manager, Alberto Samperio and the technical team are continuing to show improved performance each year due to their dedication and expertise.
Haciendas Bio utilize biodynamic methods to create biological ‘highways’ to unite the ecosystems that farms can divide.
To learn more about biodynamic agriculture, please click here.
As well as showing excellent results in Italy and Spain, ARRA Sugar Drop (ARRA 30) is proving to be a big hit in Israel, judging by Tali Grapes ARRA grower, Uzi Yaron’s great harvest. As Uzi remarks, “Although new to the region, the ARRA Sugar Drop (ARRA 30) is already making a great impression. Its impressive size and attractive colour are a big draw for the buyers who return day after day to purchase more of this variety.”
ARRA Sugar Drop™ ripens just ahead of Sugraone.
To read more about ARRA Sugar Drop, please click here.
In July, Nile Fruit Company held the first field day for ARRA Sweeties™ (ARRA 15) in Egypt. The interest in organizing such an event was driven by the success of the Egyptian growers in producing ARRA Sweeties (ARRA 15).
The field day took place at AMZA Farm, courtesy of owner Mr.Ahmed Abdel Razek, who, even though he was very busy with the harvest, kindly organized and hosted the event.
As can be seen in the pictures below, the ARRA Sweeties (ARRA 15) growers are producing excellent results in Egypt:
FATA’s ARRA Sweeties™ (ARRA 15) season has proved to be excellent this year. As Mr Hamdy Fayed, FATA’s managing director relates, “We are extremely happy with our ARRA Sweeties harvest which has resulted in great yield, quality and prices. The demand this year has been huge and because of this, we have only exported ARRA Sweeties to Marks & Spencer in the UK and to major supermarket chains in South Africa. Marks & Spencer are very happy with the ARRA Sweeties they have received. The supplies to South Africa will be arriving later this week.
In 2020, we are going to expand our production of ARRA Sweeties (ARRA 15) to ensure that supply meets the growing demands for this popular variety.”
The August ARRA field days are almost here and we can’t wait to meet and catch up with all our readers who will be attending.
For those of you who won’t be in Bakersfield this week, don’t worry – we will feature the highlights of these special days in a future newsletter edition.
Don’t miss out on these other newsletters:
We have a crush on this intense cherry-colour variety with its large, elongated, berries. This mid-late variety that boasts excellent sugar-acid balance, cherry flavour and sensational crunch, delights in appearance, taste and eating experience. Proven to be fully rain resistant, the variety also has excellent fertility and exceptional storage ability. It is the ultimate long shipping variety with the best shelf life in the industry.
ARRA CHERRY CRUSH™ literally has it all!
In short: THE ULTIMATE RED.
This established early red variety boasts a beautiful, natural, full red colour. It’s large, crunchy berries offer a fantastic eating quality. Good productivity, extraordinary hanging ability, shipping durability and shelf life, make it a choice early red.
The earliest existing red variety in the market ripens naturally 4-5 days before Flame. The advantageous short cycle, natural full red colour, together with large, sweet, crunchy berries make this a perfect Flame replacement. ARRA Fire Kiss has proven to be very fertile and grower friendly, as well as bearing great post-harvest and shipping qualities.