Exchange Provides Seeds for Innovation in Table Grape Industry
With financial and technical support from the USAID Agribusiness Project, representatives of Macedonia’s five leading table grape businesses visited Cape Town, South Africa to learn from the owners of the best table grape vineyards in the world. South Africa exports more than 200 million kilos of table grapes per year, making it the fourth largest exporter in the world and the largest exporter to the EU markets.
During the visit, Macedonian winemakers learned about the latest pre- and post-harvest practices and studied modern technologies that can help their grapes to meet European Union supermarket standards. As a result, these industry leaders developed a comprehensive action plan to enhance the competitiveness of Macedonian table grapes, including implementing a “drop by drop” irrigation system, establishing modern packing centers, and forming a Table Grape Association to represent the interests of producers and marketers. The USAID Agribusiness project will work with these businesses to implement their strategy.
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| Ivan Turanov, owner of Turan Winery in Macedonia, examines new South African table grapes during a recent exchange through the USAID Agribusiness Project. |
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