Grapes

Great season, technology has winegrapes grower beaming

Spirits are high this harvest at northwest Michigan’s Black Star Farms. Owners say they took in the best harvest in memory and purchased a thermo-vinification device to bring the best out of Midwestern winegrapes. “This... more »

California vineyard uses robotic lasers to solve bird problems

Lasers provide successful results at a vineyard in Sonoma County, California. According to the Bird Control Group, this is the first time the laser bird repelling technology is used in California. Since adopting the robotic... more »

Washington wine industry surveyed about research priorities

The Washington State Wine Commission is asking wine grape growers and wineries to fill out a survey to help identify top research priorities for the statewide wine and grape research program. Feedback from the survey will be... more »

Cornell projects support Concord grape growers in New York

Concord grapes have provided the economic backbone for communities in the Lake Erie region of New York for more than 200 years. But a dramatic reduction in nationwide juice consumption is straining the industry. Cornell... more »

USDA NASS reports California’s 2017 grape acreage

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service recently reported on California winegrapes acreage during 2017. The winegrapes acreage was estimated at 599,000 acres. Of the total acres, 560,000 were bearing and 39,000 were non-bearing. Chardonnay continued... more »

Lodi Winegrape Commission has new executive director

The Lodi Winegrape Commission, representing more than 750 winegrape growers farming 110,000 acres which includes 85 wineries in the Lodi American Viticulture Area (AVA), has appointed Stuart Spencer as executive director, effective immediately. [caption id=""... more »

NGWI changes its name to National Grape Research Alliance

Sacramento, California-based National Grape & Wine Initiative (NGWI) has officially changed its name, becoming the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA), effective immediately. The National Grape & Wine Initiative began in 2003 as the Winegrower's Critical Research... more »

China’s tariff hikes hit fruit categories, including apples

According to media reports, China is placing new tariffs on 128 products bought from the U.S. as retaliation against taxes approved by President Trump on imported steel and aluminum. The new tariffs will go effect today,... more »