Egypt owns one of the most valuable slots in the global grape calendar: the May–July early window, after the Southern Hemisphere finishes and before Spain and Italy peak. Buyers sourcing Egyptian table grapes wholesale are really buying that timing — but the difference between a program that flies and one that disappoints is variety selection. Each Egyptian variety has its own two-to-four-week window, berry profile and handling behaviour, and a good order names the variety, not just “white grapes”.
This guide walks through the main export varieties week by week, then covers the punnet and carton formats, SO2 protection and the cold chain that keeps grapes alive to destination. PEIVANA ships table grapes from Alexandria, Damietta and Sokhna — full reefers or as the premium half of a mixed produce container with mango.
Varieties: Window and Berry Profile
| Variety | Window | Colour / seeds | Berry profile | Buyer notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Sweet | Mid May – mid June | White, seedless | 16–18 mm+, crisp, mild-sweet, green-yellow | The market opener — commands early-season premiums; handle fast, thinner skin |
| Flame Seedless | Late May – end June | Red, seedless | 16–18 mm, crunchy, balanced sugar-acid | The red workhorse; strong demand in UK/EU and Gulf retail |
| Superior (Sugraone) | June – mid July | White, seedless | 18–22 mm, large elongated berry, sweet, firm | The volume white — best size/appearance combination of the season |
| Prime | Mid May – June | White, seedless | 17–19 mm, early, crisp | Alternative early white where Early Sweet is short |
| Crimson Seedless | July – August | Red, seedless | 16–18 mm, elongated, crunchy, stores well | Season closer; best storability of the reds |
| Red Globe | July – August | Red, seeded | 22–26 mm+, very large | For markets that prize giant seeded berries (Asia, Middle East) |
Program logic: open with Early Sweet + Flame, carry the mid-season on Superior, close on Crimson. That sequence gives a retailer 10–12 continuous weeks of Egyptian fruit. Check the wider season against the Egyptian produce seasons calendar.
Grades and Berry Specs
- Class 1 export: well-filled but not over-compact bunches, uniform colour, berries firmly attached, no shot berries, no sunburn or russet beyond slight traces. Bunch weight typically 300–800 g.
- Minimum berry size: specify it — e.g. ≥16 mm for Flame/Crimson, ≥18 mm for Superior. Size is a price tier, not a given.
- Brix: ≥15–16° for whites, ≥16–17° for reds (or the maturity ratio per OECD standards). Ask for readings per lot.
Packing Options
| Format | Net weight | Notes for buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Punnet carton — 10×500 g | 5 kg | The retail standard: clamshell or top-seal punnets in an open display carton |
| Punnet carton — 9×500 g / 5×900 g | 4.5 kg | UK/EU retail spec; also 10×450 g variants — confirm your chain’s punnet weight |
| Open-top carton, bagged bunches | 4.5–5 kg | Carry-bags or bunch bags for wholesale markets; faster packing, lower cost |
| Plastic crate | 8–10 kg | Regional/nearby markets and price-driven channels |
Every export carton should include a grape guard (SO2 pad) and a perforated liner. The SO2 pad slowly releases sulphur dioxide to suppress Botrytis (grey mould) — the number one destroyer of grape shipments. Dual-release pads are standard for deep-sea transits; confirm pad type and that residual SO2 stays within destination limits (EU: 10 ppm).
Cold Chain: 0°C, No Exceptions
Grapes are among the most cold-tolerant fruits and among the least forgiving of delay. The spec buyers should insist on:
- Field to pre-cooling within hours of harvest — forced-air cooled to near 0°C before stuffing;
- Carriage at −0.5 to 0°C, 90–95% RH, fresh-air vents nearly closed;
- Pulp temperature at loading ≤ 2°C, recorded on the QC report;
- No temperature breaks — data logger in every container, printout on discharge.
Done right, Egyptian grapes hold 3–5 weeks — comfortably covering Gulf, Europe and Southeast Asia routings.
QC Checkpoints Buyers Should Demand
- Pre-shipment report: brix per variety, berry size measurements, bunch weight range, defect counts, photos of open punnets.
- Rachis condition — green, turgid stems at packing (a browning rachis at loading means an old-looking grape at arrival).
- SO2 pad specification and liner type per carton.
- Residue certificate per lot — grapes are heavily tested at EU borders; demand compliance evidence up front.
- GlobalG.A.P. + GRASP for retail programs; packhouse BRC/HACCP.
- Pulp temperature + logger as above.
How Grapes Fit a Mixed Container
Grapes at 0°C do not share a reefer with mango at 11°C — so mixed programs run either grapes with other 0°C compatibles or as sequential summer bookings alongside mango containers. Many mid-size buyers alternate: grapes this week, a summer mango + grapes program across the season, with the split explained in that guide. The full logic of combining Egyptian products on one bill of lading is in the mixed containers cornerstone.
FAQ
When do Egyptian table grapes start?
Commercial volumes of Early Sweet begin mid-May, Flame follows by late May, Superior peaks in June, and Crimson carries the season into August.
What punnet format should I order?
For supermarket programs, 10×500 g top-seal punnets in a 5 kg carton is the most widely accepted spec; UK chains often take 4.5 kg configurations. For wholesale markets, bagged bunches in 4.5–5 kg open cartons cost less and sell fine.
Are SO2 pads safe and accepted?
Yes — grape guards are standard worldwide for seafreight grapes. The requirement is that residual sulphur dioxide on berries stays within the destination limit (10 ppm in the EU), which certified packhouses control by pad type and dosage.
Get a Same-Day Grape Quotation
Tell us variety, berry size, punnet format and destination — we will quote the same day and build a week-by-week program across the season. PEIVANA is the flexible Egyptian exporter, shipping from Alexandria, Damietta, Sokhna and Port Said.