Claus Orth and Hovav Weksler, viticulture specialists contracted by Sun World, will be visiting South African growers during the first week of September as part of a continuing program of technical support. The objective of the visit this year is to assist growers to better understand new Sun World table grape varieties, and to help make production of all Sun World varieties more efficient. This includes improved production of quality fruit.

They will be joined by Sun World's Johan Jooste, Vice President and General Manager of Operations in Africa. Remarked Jooste, "Both of these gentlemen have vast experience with Sugraone production in various climatic regions of the world, from the desert climates of California's Coachella Valley and Saudi Arabia, to more temperate climates of Italy, South Africa and Australia, as well as sub tropical climates of Brazil. The modus operandi is to arrange for group discussions with growers in specific regions as well as to demonstrate cultural practices such as canopy management, pruning, crop control, and bunch preparation in vineyards".

In South Africa this advisory program has been very successful in that average production per hectare has increased dramatically over the past five years with Sugraone.  Much of future advisory programs will be focused on new Sun World varieties planted in South Africa such as Sugrathirteen (MIDNIGHT BEAUTY® and Sugrasixteen (SABLE SEEDLESS®). Growth and production habits of these two varieties differ significantly from that of Sugraone and the quicker that growers understand them, the better the chances of success.  After this winter more than 80 hectares of Sugrathirteen and several hectares of Sugrasixteen and Sugratwelve will have been planted in South Africa and growers and workers will receive intensive training.

Sun World's David Marguleas, Sr. Vice President of Licensing and Corporate Development, thinks that SOPHIA SEEDLESS will fill a void in certain markets worldwide. "SOPHIA SEEDLESS was designed to be a seedless replacement for the Italia aromatic muscat variety that is marketed widely in Europe", said Marguleas. "Italia is still very popular there, but younger people don't tolerate seeded grapes like their parents did. They want the flavor of Italia without the seeds".

Even in the United States and other large grape markets that have traditionally sold Thompson-type green grapes, there is a trend toward more aromatic and flavorful table grapes. For photos of this year's SOPHIA SEEDLESS harvest go to Seasonal Shots for Weeks 30-31.