While seedless grape prices have been "spectacular" for Peruvian exporters in 2015-16, Red Globes have not fared so well, according to an Ica-based exporter.

Challapampa's Frank Michel says he doesn't think his country's growers will achieve such high prices in the seedless cultivars for many years.

"It was from a combination of problems in the Californian harvest, a significant delay in the Chilean season, and that gave us a window that became a door; something much bigger. We could say that has helped Peru's seedless grape growers a lot," Michel says.

"One can talk about seedless and it’s a marvellous story but the story of Red Globes has been the same for the last three or four years with very adjusted prices in general.

"Peru, as you know, is a Red Globe country and the reality today for the variety is different. Because of plantings done five to 10 years ago, it would seem Peru has an overproduction of Red Globes currently, and in fact a lot of companies that are cutting some hectares of Red Globes or are planning to do so in the coming years."

On the issue of Red Globes, he believes Ica's growers are in a better position than their counterparts in the northern region of Piura.

"The problem with Piura is that they are producing grapes when the Californian season is still happening, so the Asian market is very complicated - they have their own Red Globe production and North American supply in the market.

"For us in Ica where the fruit is later, we can enter the Asian market because in that time we don’t have competition with local supply and North American fruit, so we can place our fruit better."

One complication for Ica's produce industry however has been water, with delays in approvals for key irrigation projects to support the sector. Nonetheless, there is optimism around the appointment of produce industry consultant Fernando Cilloniz as Governor of the Ica department.

"My impression is we're lucky he was elected. He's been pushing a lot for irrigation works in the Ica region - there are three different projects of irrigation, or re-irrigation with the same water resources.

"I understand a series of stages have been undertaken with studies for the Ministry of Economy to approve projects as a priority.

"Unfortunately it’s been delayed but I think he’ll make it happen much more quickly, but there are bureaucratic barriers that I imagine are difficult to manage."

In terms of the country's presidential elections, due to take place on June 5 with Keiko Fujimori and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski vying for the position, Michel expects both candidates to place the same priority on these projects.

"For both candidates who are in the race, it seems both have the intention to continue with the irrigation projects so I am completely calm about that."

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