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Alarm bells went off earlier this year, when Refresco Company announced that it was cancelling grape contracts in this area. It had been a large purchaser of Concord grapes here in Chautauqua County.
I have not been privy to the decision of Refresco but am assuming that at least part of its decision was based upon the fact that grape processing was a small part of its overall international operations, and corporate big-wigs decided to focus company efforts more on its core businesses.
Whatever the reason, it left some grape growers without an immediate market for their grapes.
For my whole life, practically, I have observed the "ups and downs" in the grape industry here. Right now, there is a downturn for grape growers. There have been such times before and our grape farmers have mostly weathered the storm--but we know that this year won't be easy for many.
The National Grape Cooperative in Westfield, which owns Welch's Grape Juice Company, is still the largest purchaser of grapes here. However, if you are in a co-op, you also must abide by their allocations--they can limit the number of acres of grapes they will purchase depending on the market.
Like most of American agriculture, grape farming has become a big business. Whereas, fifty years ago a grape farmer with 50 acres could make a go of it--today, you will likely need to own or farm a hundred or several hundred acres of grapes in order to make a profit.
We have farm wineries today, and they have brought the introduction of new wine grape varieties. Yet, the great portion of the Chautauqua County grape crop still comes from our traditional Concord grape vineyards.
Concord grape juice has gone up and down in price over the years and now is one of those down cycles. One "beacon of light" locally has been the announcement of the establishment of a new company in Westfield which will focus on promoting grape juice by packaging it in small drink packages which are used in the school cafeteria market.
If history is any teacher, because of its nutrition and tastiness, grape juice will be back.
Another issue, of course, is that there is more juice from foreign competition. Yet, despite that, the Lake Erie/lake plain area remains the primary Concord-grape growing area in this country and in the world.
Mother nature should keep it that way--but all of us who live here should be aware of the challenges today in grape farming. We wish our friends in the grape business the best in confronting their marketing issues this year.
And, the next time we head for the supermarket, let's pick up an extra bottle of grape juice to supplement all of those other items going into our grocery bags!
Rolland Kidder is a Stow resident.