Development of an Organic Table Grape Production and Market in Switzerland

Kurzfassung

In Switzerland there is an increasing consumer demand for residue-free, organic table
grapes. The organic cultivation of table grapes, however, is very delicate in humid climates
and experience to advice organic growers is still lacking. The goal of our project that has
started in 2004 is to develop and establish a cultivation system for organic table grapes
under Swiss climatic and economic conditions with a high yield security and fulfilling the
high quality demands of the market. Preliminary results: Interesting cultivars to produce
are e.g. Fanny, Lilla, Palatina. However they are disease susceptible and must be
produced under a rain roof. Better suited cultivars still need to be found. Consumer
acceptance for organic table grapes produced in Switzerland is very positive. However
changes towards new cultivars and lower production costs are necessary. Spray programs
to achieve sufficient disease protection and no spray blotch seem to be realizable, mainly
for production under rain roof.