Arabfields, Giulia Alliata, Economic Correspondent, Italia — Italy’s table grape sector is entering a more closely regulated phase as enforcement of plant variety rights becomes a growing priority for breeders, growers and customs authorities.

Bloom Fresh says 2026 has been a particularly significant year for protecting its licensed grape varieties in Italy. Over the past 12 months, the company has secured several court victories involving unauthorized cultivation of protected varieties, with cases in Bari involving SHEEGENE 9, SHEEGENE 20 and SHEEGENE 2, marketed respectively as MELANIE™, ALLISON™ and TIMPSON™.

The legal actions have resulted in unauthorized vines being removed, commitments to stop future infringement, disclosure of the sources of illegal planting material and financial compensation. For growers who have invested in licensed varieties, the cases carry a message that goes beyond the courtroom.

“It is about protecting every licensee who has invested in growing our varieties the right way,” Bloom Fresh CEO Josep Estriate said.

One of the largest cases still under appeal involves Top Fruit di Angela Colucci, Angela Colucci and La Fitta di Angela Colucci. A first-instance ruling by the Court of Bari found that Bloom Fresh’s plant variety rights had been infringed and ordered damages as well as payment of unlawfully obtained net profits exceeding €750,000, equivalent to about $877,000.

The court also ordered the destruction of unauthorized plants and publication of its decision in Corriere della Sera. The defendants have appealed, meaning the case is not yet finished.

For legitimate growers, the financial figures underline the commercial importance of protecting new grape genetics. Modern table grape varieties often require years of breeding, testing, licensing and investment before they reach consumers. Unauthorized propagation can therefore affect not only breeders but also growers who have paid for the right to cultivate and market protected varieties.

Bloom Fresh has also expanded its approach beyond Italian farms. In 2026, the company filed an EU-wide Application for Action with customs authorities, allowing officials across the European Union to detain and seize fruit linked to unauthorized production.

The company has begun training Italian customs officers to recognize protected varieties and identify potentially infringing fruit at the border. It plans to extend similar training to other European ports.

The shift toward stronger border enforcement could become increasingly important as branded and proprietary grape varieties gain a larger role in international fresh produce markets. Bloom Fresh currently lists more than 25 table grape varieties in its portfolio and operates its breeding and commercial programs across more than 10 countries.

Based on the enforcement activity seen in 2026, the next stage is likely to involve closer cooperation between breeders, customs agencies and national courts. More cases could move away from being isolated disputes between individual growers and rights holders and toward a broader European enforcement network.

For Italian growers, that could mean greater scrutiny of planting material and harvested fruit, particularly where protected varieties command strong commercial returns. For breeders, the expectation is different: stronger enforcement may provide greater confidence that investment in new genetics can be recovered through licensed production.

The outcome could gradually reshape how premium grape varieties are introduced and cultivated across Europe. If customs training expands as planned and legal action continues to produce significant financial consequences, unauthorized plantings may become a more expensive and riskier proposition.

For now, the message from Italy is clear. In a market where distinctive grape varieties are increasingly valuable, ownership of the genetics is becoming just as important as the fruit itself.