There is a theoretical support, but I think it isn't fully supported yet.

thank you philho!
...what exactly means "theoretical" in this case? is it planned? i tested the beta version which doesn't seem to do it...

The code supports gradients, but there are several ways to declare them in SVG, so some forms are not well supported.
See also the issue http://code.google.com/p/processing/issues/detail?id=1142
The issue creator seems to say Illustrator gradients are well supported, but I have a SVG file with gradients (found on Wikipedia, ArrowHeart) that is rendered flat in my test. But that's a radial gradient, I don't know if it is well supported.

Actually, making another test, I could display two icons with gradients, although one has the radial gradient a bit off with its center. So, there is indeed support for Illustrator gradients, not sure why my first test on ArrowHeart doesn't show the gradient. I have to investigate... The other icon is the Google+ icon. See http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:SVG_icons
Some other files have separate issues: some use elliptical arc (not supported yet), another use filters (idem), another one has a color name in the gradient (I forgot to fix this one ), another has a NPE in the radial gradient (to fix, too).

I see the gradients in 1.5.1 and 2.0b6.

wow! now i see, it really works!!:) that changes thing profoundly to me. thank you so much for help and amazing work on processing!!!

i made a pdf export test and noticed that by scaling the pdf, the gradient behaves not algorithmically but rather like a pixel information, it becomes stripy by scaling...
my idea of getting extra large print data out by that is unfortunately not solved:(

sorry, it's fine. while importing into gimp correct gradiens show up in any size.
thank you again for this great offer!