Promoted by Fruit Communication and Fruit Lab together with CUT, APEO and the Sicilian Table Grape Association, with the support of the IGP Consortia and the international backing of Fruitnet, the event will highlight the major themes shaping table grape production today.
The conference —free of charge and open to all sector operators— follows the path set by LUV Fiera, the first European biennial dedicated entirely to table grapes, and officially marks the beginning of the journey towards the fair’s second edition, scheduled from 20 to 22 October 2026 at the Nuova Fiera del Levante in Bari.
Water, plant protection, markets and varieties under the spotlight
The day will open with the inaugural round table “Shared values and strategies for the future of the sector”, comparing key Italian experiences in the enhancement of table grapes.
On stage, alongside Mirko Sgaramella, will be Vincenzo Di Piazza (Sicilian Association of Table Grapes), Massimiliano Del Core (CUT), Giacomo Suglia (APEO) and representatives of Italy’s three table grape IGPs.
Panels will conclude with an institutional overview from regional councillor Luca Sammartino.
The second session of the morning will focus on the crucial issues of water and plant protection, in an increasingly complex regulatory and climatic context: agronomists, university researchers and Land Reclamation Consortia will discuss issues and possible solutions, also addressing varietal innovation.
This will be followed by contributions from partner companies and a lecture by Professor Rosario Di Lorenzo (University of Palermo) on the genetic evolution of table grapes.
In the afternoon, the conference will turn to data and markets: the statistical overview will include the varietal register, CSO Italy’s consumption analyses and Ismea’s assessment of production and European flows of table grapes.
There will also be space for the large-scale retail trade with a buyer talk.
The day will close with two thematic round tables:
One dedicated to post-harvest, involving universities, producer organisations and specialised companies.
One focused on breeding and varietal renewal, featuring leading global breeders (Sun World, AVI-Arra, Bloom Fresh, Grape Evolution) discussing the future of varieties and strategies to meet global market challenges.
Participation in the Table Grape Conference will also entitle attendees to professional training credits.
LUV Fiera and the partnership with Fruitnet
The event —now in its second edition— made its debut in 2024 during LUV Fiera. It now returns with a key new development: a partnership with Fruitnet, the international network for fresh produce information.
The collaboration, made official at the Table Grape Conference, will enable Mediterranean excellence to meet the international scene, carrying the path launched in Catania straight into the heart of the next edition of LUV Fiera.
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“The Table Grape Conference is not just a conference but a vision laboratory,” stresses Mirko Sgaramella, project manager of LUV Fiera. “We want it to become the place where the supply chain reflects on itself, identifies challenges and strengths, and works to build a shared roadmap. The goal is to connect the technical expertise in the field with the analytical capacity of research and the pragmatism of business.”
“In this perspective,” Sgaramella adds, “the Table Grape Conference assumes a strategic role: it is the permanent observatory where producers, innovators and decision-makers can speak directly. This is where the journey towards LUV Fiera 2026 begins, with renewed awareness and a more international outlook.”
