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By Grapa Varieties, November 2024

Peru's Red-Hot ARRA Fire Crunch Season

Exciting developments are unfolding in Peru as the country officially kicks off its harvest season in the northern region of Piura. Peru now sells one of the largest volumes of table grapes worldwide, and its advantage lies in its longer growing season and cheaper labor. In recent years, the Peruvian table grape industry has bounced back from significant challenges. Many growers faced devastating losses during a workers strike, which severely impacted their harvests. However, thanks to recovery efforts, production volumes have increased, and it has returned to being one of the world’s leading exporters of table grapes.

ARRA Fire Crunch - Agricola Rapel

The Peruvian grape industry is now focusing on enhancing yield and quality, with a growing emphasis on sustainable practices. Producers are adopting environmentally friendly methods, including reducing water usage, minimizing pesticide application, and exploring alternative farming techniques. As of last year, 75% of the acreage was devoted to licensed grapes and 25% to traditional ones, while just four years ago, traditional grapes were more common than licensed grapes. “Traditional grapes, including the Crimson and Thompson varieties, are losing ground due to them failing to reach a sufficient number of boxes with the adequate quality for export,” according to Provid, Association of Table Grape Producers of Peru.

One of the most exciting developments is the introduction of the ARRA Fire Crunch™ variety, which growers and marketers alike perceive will revolutionize the red table grape sector in Peru. The hype around this innovative grape variety is all about its impressive qualities: high yields, ease of production, exceptional flavor, large berry size, amazing crunchiness, excellent shelf life, and a vivid red color that remains bright without darkening—a significant advantage for the market.

Currently, 70% of table grapes produced in Peru are white, with only 15% being red. The quest for a suitable red grape variety has been challenging, but ARRA Fire Crunch is set to fill that gap. This variety is resilient, showing remarkable rain tolerance and excellent cold storage capabilities, which contribute to its superior quality and long shelf life.

The ARRA Fire Crunch harvest is already underway at Sociedad Agrícola Rapel in Piura, where the fruit is characterized by its crisp texture, striking red color, and delightful taste. At Rapel the ARRA Fire Crunch harvest has demonstrated excellent fruit quality, with an average size of 22-23 mm. The grapes are uniform, crunchy and have a pleasant flavor.

Following successful trials, the leading grape growing companies in Peru have decided to increase their plantation for commercial produce, proving the immense potential for its success. Due to limited quantities this year, the ARRA Fire Crunch will specifically make its way mainly to the U.S. market, fulfilling the demand for a red variety that maintains its vivid red color.

ARRA Honey Pop™ - Pop Your World

ARRA Honey Pop in Peru

When considering new early white varieties, the ARRA breeding program offers an appealing alternative with ARRA Honey Pop™. This very early variety has been tested in Peru and demonstrated excellent adaptability. Its short growing cycle makes it well-suited for the region, reducing exposure to extreme weather conditions. We are proud to introduce high-performing alternative varieties that could usher in a new era for the Peruvian table grape industry.

Grapasa team - Karl Conrads, Arsenio Duarez Huaman and Luis Arancibia Molina

In December, the Grapasa team, the territorial representative for the ARRA™ varieties in South America, will hold exclusive field days for ARRA growers and licensees in Peru’s different growing regions. Karl Conrads and Arsenio Duarez Huaman, from Grapasa South America, look forward to presenting the ARRA developments. Stay tuned for further updates!

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