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Proceedings 32nd Meeting

25. - 27.03.2019, Bonn, Germany

Production of table grapes in Brazil

Mônica Ishikawa, AMV — Serviços e Consultoria Ltda / ABRAFRUTAS

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Federal Office for Agriculture and FoodBundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE)

President:Dr. Hanns-Christoph Eiden

Deichmanns Aue 2953179 Bonn, Germany

Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 0Fax: ++49 (0)30 1810 6845 - 3444E-mail: info@ble.de

Editing

Dr. Ulrike Bickelmann, BLE

Telephone: ++49 (0)228 6845 - 3357

E-mail: qualitaetskontrolle@ble.de

Date of issue

November 2019

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Production of Table Grapes in BrazilMônica Ishikawa, AMV – SERVIÇOS E CONSULTORIA LTDA

Brazil is the number 3 of world fruit producers and number 16 of fruit exporters. The fruticulture covers 2.5 million hectars in Brazil and provides 5 million of employments. The gross value of fruit production in 2017 is 33.3 billion US $. The main destination of Brazilian fruits is the market of the European Union (67 % by volume). However, the percentage of exported fruits it only 2.5 % and the rest is destined for the domestic market.

In 2016, table grapes were ranking number 10 by global production volume. However, in Brazil it was number 4 of the fruit exported in 2017.

The San Francisco valley is the largest pole in the fruticulture of Brazil. It is situated in the northeast of Brazil. It generates 240,000 direct employments, 440 million US $ in exports of grapes and mangoes, i.e. 98 % of table grapes and 90 % of mangoes exported by Brazil. The San Francisco River, with its 2,700 km of extension and an average flow of 3,150 m3/s, is the source that makes possible projects of sustainable development for an area of 640,000 km2, creating jobs and products with quality to be consumed all over the world.

Advantages

In Europe, Brazilian table grapes yield a very good price as they are marketed from October to December and April to May when competition of other producing areas is low. However, this “window” is becoming smaller.

The main production is harvested from early October to December and from April to May. The climate is hot and dry with annual rainfall being no more than 610 mm per year (concentrated in 4 months from December to March). Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in March and dry periods in June, July, August, September and October. The average potential annual evapotranspiration, by Hargreaves, to Petrolina is 2,090 mm, the hydric deficit is 1,689 mm/year. The average evaporation of the atmosphere varies between 80 to 220 mm/month. The irrigation water supply should, therefore, correct for seasonal changes in the potential evapotranspiration. The rational use of the water supplied as a performance

indicator. The irrigation water used on the fields is provided mainly by the San Francisco River. Heavy irrigation investments have been developed by the government. Due to the quality of the water, there is no danger of causing the salinity of the soil.

The annual average temperature of 30 °C and the relative humidity of about 40 %, alongside with the high luminosity enable, technically, the fruit production throughout the year, offering all times, healthy products and with low uses of pesticides. The San Francisco Valley has around 300 days of sun, during the year and it is the only place in the world where it is possible to pick between two and four crops in two years. Thus, farmers can define the schedule of production according to sales or demands.

Disadvantages

Brazil has no autumn and winter and thus not enough repose of the vineyards. In case of two or more crops a year, no winter dormancy is expressed. On the other hand, drought stress

Comparison between Brazil and US with res-pect to table grape production

Factors for competition

Northeast of Brazil

California (USA)

Insolation, i.e. hours or sun light per year

3,000 2,200

Labour costs, working hour cost

0.75 US$ 5.0 - 10.0 US$

Price of irriga-ted land

12,000 - 25,000 US$/ha

37,500 US$/ha

Cost of implan-tation, irrigated hectare

25,000 US$ 50,000 US$

Productivity of the land, har-vest per year

up to 2.5 1

Export markets EUA, Europe, Japan, internal market

Mainly inter-nal market (USA)

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Production of Table Grape in Brazil

results in an impressive built-up of both anthocyanins (phenolic compounds allowing for the creation of pigments) and sugars. This phenomenon explaining the deep colour and respectable alcohol levels of Brazilian red wines. Brazilian producers have trouble with bud fertility of vineyards and they lack qualified workforce. Roads in Brazil aren’t suitable for the transportation of fruits. There is a lack of security as well as a lack of registered products for rotational pest treatment. Anyway, Brazilian producers have to pay high taxes.

Problems dealt with by grape growers

Even though grape growers, who practice organic production, use similar practices for pest management, each one applies programs specific for the area and vineyards. Some of the more common problems dealt with by grape growers include the insect pests: mites, mealybugs, thrips. Diseases commonly occur throughout the production areas in order of importance: Downy mildew caused by Plasmopara viticola, Powdery mildew (Oidium sp) caused by Uncinula necator, wood canker diseases (Lasiodiplodia theobromae), botrytis bunch rot caused by Botrytis cinerea, and other minor fungal diseases. Control measures for the major diseases will be present and include cultural as well as chemical methods of control.

How to produce three crops in two years?

The region has characteristics to grow grapevine with two harvests a year, because of the warm temperatures that prevail throughout the year. The main climatic elements that interfere with table grape cultivation are solar radiation (average monthly sun hours 220 to 270), temperature (average monthly temperatures 24.3 to 29.8 °C), relative humidity (average humidity 50 to 70 %), precipitation and wind speed (average wind speed 9.1 to 15.3 mph). These factors influence the growth and development of the plant, the occurrence of pests and diseases, its water requirements, the productivity and quality of the grapes.

With respect to production fields, the grapes are divided into large areas. While in one part they

are ready for harvesting, in the other the stage is pruning. Right next to it, the grapes are still starting to appear and in another side they are in repose.

This is not a miracle of multiplication. It is a miracle of irrigation. By controlling the water, the whole life cycle of the grape is controlled. Next to the vineyards the farm is placed with fertilizer warehouse, spray preparation station, packing house, warehouse, office, internet station, water treatment station, workshop and weather station. The production process consists of irrigation, spraying, fertilizing and cultivation. The applied technologies are weather station, tensiometry, soil humidity monitoring, and frequency inverters in irrigation pumps. Challenges are soil stage irrigation, detection of water stress by image as well as the low consumption of irrigation systems. Finally, operational discipline, i.e. everyone making the best all the time.

Phenological stages of Seedless Grape in the San Francisco Valley

The life cycle of a crop starts at day one with pruning. Bud swell is 8 to 12 days after pruning. Shoots appear 12 to 16 days after pruning; followed by blooming (flowering to full bloom) 28 to 35 days after pruning. Fruit set is 35 to 70 days after pruning and trimming 45 to 55 days after pruning. Veraison is 70 to 90 days after pruning; ripening to harvest 80 to 120 days after pruning. Each phase of the cycle could take between 5 to 10 days, depending on the weather conditions. The repose will depend on the schedule of pruning. For export, it will normally be 80 days after the harvest.

Vineyards at different stages of development

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Production of Table Grape in Brazil

There are four Brazilian ports for export from Petrolina, i.e. from the South to the North: Salvador (distance to Petrolina 517 km), Suape (714 km), Natal (971 km) and Pecem (875 km).

Initiatives for food safety

The growers/exporters are also interested in promoting the grapes in their area and in exporting them from the San Francisco Valley with the demands of quality of integrated production, GLOBALGAP and other certifiers to receive a label of quality.

Main certification and requirements for the EU are:

• Global G.A.P. with Add on.

• Social Certification (GRASP or SMETA – Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit).

• HACCP – Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.

• BSCI – Business Social Compliance Initiative.

• RAINFOREST ALLIANCE.

Grape availability in Peru

Grape availability in California, USA

Fruit availability in Brazil

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Production of Table Grape in Brazil

Varieties of Table grapes

These are some varieties of table grapes which have been studied by Embrapa (Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária) in Brazil: Italia, Alphonse Lavallée (Ribier), Red Globe, African Delight, Benitaka (including “naturally improved”), Sugraone (Festival Seedless), Thompson Seedless, Dawn Seedless, IFG Five (Sweet Jubilee®), BRS Núbia, Sugrathirtyfive (AutumnCrispTM), Sheegene 2 (Timpson®), IFG Eleven (Sugar Crisp®), IFG Ten (Sweet Globe®), IFG Seven (Cotton Candy®), Arrafifteen (Arra Sweeties®), Crimson Seedless, Sheegene 13 (Timco®), IFG Twenty-One (Candy Snaps®), IFG Nine (Jack´s Salute®), Sugrasixteen (Sable SeedlessTM), Sugranineteen (Scarlotta Seedless ®), Sugrathirteen (Midnight Beauty®), IFG Fifteen (Sweet Surprise®), IFG Six (Sweet Sapphire®), BRS Vitória, BRS Ísis.

Acknowledgements:

CEAGESP, ABRAFRUTAS, FRUTAS DO BRASIL, CAJ, FAN, COOPA, EMBRAPA, PRODOMO, AECUS, FAZENDAS LABRUNIER, ARGO.