Bulgaria’s Government was to take action to encourage the revival of the growing of table grape varieties in this country, daily newspaper Dnevnik reported on October 10.

Table grape production in Bulgaria dramatically decreased and in the past several years from an exporter Bulgaria almost became a net importer of the commodity.

Table grapes, also known as dessert grapes, typically require a hot, dry climate, deep well-drained soil and a large amount of irrigation water. Bulgaria, having all these conditions fulfilled in the past, dominated the market in Europe for many years.

However, while in the 1970s the table grape was grown on a total area of almost 54 000 hectares, today the culture takes no more than 4 000 hectares. Industry experts said, as quoted by Dnevnik that table grape growing areas would continue to decline reaching 2 000 hectares by 2010. Meanwhile, dessert grape exports would be completely gone. No new table grape vineyards had been planted in Bulgaria in 2005 and 2006.

The experts said that Bulgaria has the potential to revive table grape production. Therefore, the state should aid financially until 2020 the replanting of at least 1000 hectares a year. Such an encouragement was enlisted in a government programme already undergoing implementation.
The problem was that the produce was not popular on the market and among the growers. The latter preferred to plant wine grapes because of their higher export value.