Filenews 29 July 2024 - by Dora Christodoulou
The clear message that the largest wine organization in the country will not act as a funnel for the absorption of all the grapes in Cyprus this year is sent by the officials of the cooperative organization.
Following the relevant memorandum sent to the Minister of Agriculture, the competent authorities of SODAP clarify that due to the fullness of its storage spaces from the receipts of previous years that were made only to support producers, this year only the quantity that is really needed will be received and only grapes that meet specific quality characteristics.
Characteristically, the president of the Council of the organization, Nikos Savvidis, told "F" that a quantity of 1.5 million kilos will be received this year and only if they meet specific criteria. In particular, he stressed, it was stipulated that sugars, known as pomé, should be 12 or more for white grapes and 12.5 for red grapes.
Regarding the prices that will be given to winegrowers this year, this is expected to be clarified within the next few days, Mr. Savvides stressed, given that at the last meeting of the Committee he did not lock in a price. The goal of SODAP over time, he said, is the satisfaction of our producers and we will move in this policy again this year.
Nikos Savvides estimated that this year's production will be slightly increased from last year and will range between 12-15 million kilos. This quantity, he said, is still low for viticulture, attributing it to the weather conditions of prolonged heat wave and drought.
Finally, the chairman of the SODAP Council clarified that a green harvest program was not implemented this year either, since it was judged that due to this low production, stocks will be taken over by existing wineries.
