New York grape growers are confronting lost processor contracts, excess supply and limited markets as harvest season approaches, according to Spectrum News 1.
Chautauqua County producer Jim Joy said Refresco canceled contracts with more than 100 Western New York growers in March, leaving some without a buyer for their grapes.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture agreed to purchase $20 million in surplus Concord grape juice, but Joy said the move may not directly help growers who no longer have contracts.
Industry officials also pointed to imported bulk wine, increased grape yields and restrictions on grocery store wine sales as factors contributing to the market imbalance.
The New York Wine and Grape Foundation is working on a new marketing plan to expand demand for Concord grapes and develop additional markets for the state’s growers.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to news@fingerlakes1.com.
