Grapes are thought to have been first cultivated more than 7,000 years ago near present-day Iran. New York ranks third in wine and grape production in the U.S. (California and Washington are the top two). The 2012 Census of Agriculture reports that there are about 1200 farms with about 36,000 acres of land dedicated to grape production in New York State. Greater than half of these farms produce grapes on less than 25 acres. Eastern New York, a relative newcomer to commercial grape production, has 650 acres under cultivation.

There are four major wine producing regions in New York (Lake Erie, Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley, and Long Island). These areas are officially recognized by the Federal Tax and Trade Bureau. Improvement in cold hardiness of grape cultivars and increased consumer interest in local wine production has allowed wine trails in non-traditional grape regions to flourish (e.g. Lake Champlain Region). A small amount of acreage is even being devoted to table grapes.

The total New York grape crop value was estimated at $52.3 million at the time of the census. Grapes processed into juice accounted for 62% of the total production, with the remaining 36% and 2% going to wine and fresh market respectively.

For more information about grape production, please visit the Cornell Grape website at http://www.fruit.cornell.edu/grape/index.htm.


More Grapes Content

Ag Business Tuesdays - Clinton County

July 11, 2017
1.5 hour appts between 9:00am to 5:00pm
Plattsburgh, NY

Are you a farmer in Eastern New York with a question about the management side of your farm business? The Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, in collaboration with CCE County offices, is offering free farm business technical assistance appointments this summer on Tuesdays at various locations in our service region. On Tuesday, July 11 from 9:00am-5:00pm we will be at CCE Clinton County.

High Tunnel Field Meeting

July 12, 2017
5:00-7:00pm
Arygle, NY

Join us for a discussion of ongoing high tunnel fertility management for summer tomato crops, high tunnel soil health, as well as other summer high tunnel crop options including cucumbers and basil.

In addition there will be an update on leek moth in allium crops, a discussion of downy mildew in basil, and a
demonstration of an in-row flame weeder.

Ag Business Tuesdays - Warren County

July 25, 2017
1.5 hour appts between 9:00am to 4:00pm
Warrensburgh, NY

Are you a farmer in Eastern New York with a question about the management side of your farm business? The Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team, in collaboration with CCE County offices, is offering free farm business technical assistance appointments this summer on Tuesdays at various locations in our service region. On Tuesday, July 25 from 9:00am-4:00pm we will be at CCE Warren County.

New Resources for Berry Crops

White Rot Update

Earlier in June I sent a garlic sample to the diagnostic lab hoping that I was wrong. The sample was covered in small black sclerotia, the size of poppy seeds, and white fungal hyphae crept up the stem. The results, unfortunately, matched the field diagnosis: White Rot. Within a couple days additional calls came from up and down the Hudson Valley as well as one in Western NY with similar suspicions. These samples have also gone to the lab for verification, but it looks like the latest pest to move back into the state is this nasty fungus.