Table Grape

Vitis labrusca, Vitis vinifera hybrids

fruitperennial Zone 5–8

Table grapes in Zones 5-8 use cold-hardy Labrusca types like Niagara or hybrids like Reliance, Himrod; require well-drained soils, full sun, lake moderation for winter hardiness.

18/30

Crop Snowflake Score

Gross Revenue

$6,500

/acre

Net Return

$1,500

/acre

Price Trend

declining

Establishment Cost

$18,000

/acre

Crop Insurance

Available

Years to Production

years

Overview

Growing Season

Plant: early spring – early spring
Harvest: mid-August to late September – mid-August to late September
Frost-free days: 135+
GDD (base 50°F): 2,500

Yield

Typical yield: 5 tons/acre
Productive lifespan: 22 years
Years to full prod.: 4
Labor: 56 hrs/acre

91%

Market Fit

1/6

Active Regional Buyers

Established crop with known regional buyers

Price Trend Stable/Up

Price declining due to market saturation

Supply Below Demand

Regional supply exceeds demand

Multiple Buyer Channels

Limited market channels; primarily single outlet

Value-Added Potential

Limited value-added processing opportunities

Market Growth Projected

Market declining; Concord grape oversupply

Market Channels

wholesale · Wholesale competes against California, Mexico, Chile, and Peru at commodity pricing. Limited viability for small producers unless supplying regional distributors focused on local product.

retail · Local co-ops and independent grocers will carry regional table grapes in season; chain supermarkets dominated by California and imported product, limited entry for small growers.

direct_to_consumer · U-pick and farm-stand sales effective for table grapes; customers enjoy vineyard experience. Common for diversified fruit operations.

farmers_market · Fresh table grapes highly valued at farmers markets, especially cold-hardy and seedless varieties grown outside traditional California production zones. Premium pricing for locally grown fresh fruit.

csa · Short fresh window and fragile handling limit CSA use; can be a premium add-on share rather than core component.

restaurant · Farm-to-table restaurants use fresh seasonal table grapes for plating and specialty desserts. Relationship-based sales typical.

Climate Fit

6/6

Hardiness Zone Match

Region's hardiness zone within crop range (5.0-8.0)

GDD Sufficient

Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (2500)

Precipitation Compatible

Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs

Frost-Free Season OK

Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (135 days)

Chill Hours Met

Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (100+)

Climate Trend Favorable

Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region

Soil Compatibility

Soil Texture

sand (marginal)loamy_sand (suitable)sandy_loam (ideal)loam (ideal)silt_loam (suitable)sandy_clay_loam (suitable)clay_loam (marginal)silty_clay_loam (marginal)silty_clay (poor)clay (poor)

Drainage

very_poorly_drained (poor)poorly_drained (poor)somewhat_poorly_drained (marginal)moderately_well_drained (suitable)well_drained (ideal)somewhat_excessively_drained (suitable)excessively_drained (marginal)

Infrastructure Fit

5/6

Equipment Compatible

Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted

Storage Available

Specialized or limited storage; perishable product needs immediate handling

Irrigation Compatible

Irrigation beneficial; existing vineyard irrigation systems adaptable

Field Layout Suitable

Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop

Labor Availability

Moderate labor requirements; manageable with planning

Processing Proximity

Processing/packing facilities within viable distance in WNY

Equipment Requirements

planting

Trellis system (posts, wire, anchors)Required Specialized

A permanent trellis (e.g., high-cordon or vertical shoot position) is required to support vines and fruit.

Post driver / augerRequired Specialized

Sets trellis end and line posts during vineyard establishment.

Vine planting auger / dibbleRequired

Digs planting holes for dormant vines at establishment.

cultivation

Under-vine cultivator or weed control toolRequired

Manages the weed-free strip beneath the trellis.

Mower for row middlesRequired

Maintains cover-cropped or sod row middles for access and erosion control.

spraying

Airblast sprayerRequired Specialized

Delivers the season-long fungicide/insecticide program into the canopy.

irrigation

Drip irrigationOptional

Supplemental irrigation for establishment and fruit sizing on droughty sites.

harvesting

Harvest lugs / picking shearsRequired

Table grapes are hand-harvested with shears into shallow lugs to protect clusters.

Bird nettingOptional Specialized

Protects ripening fruit from bird damage in the weeks before harvest.

post_harvest

Forced-air / cold storageRequired

Rapid cooling and cold storage extend the short shelf life of fresh clusters.

general

Vineyard tractor (narrow, ~35-60 hp)Required

Narrow orchard/vineyard tractor for spraying, mowing, and cultivation between rows.

Pruning shears / hand toolsRequired

Annual dormant pruning and canopy management require hand and pneumatic pruners.

Storage Requirements

Cold storage with SO2 fumigation

Temperature

30–32°F

Humidity

90–95%

Max Storage

84 days

Cold storage without SO2 (short-term)

Temperature

30–32°F

Humidity

90–95%

Max Storage

21 days

Finance Fit

5/6

Revenue Above Average

Gross revenue ($2,100/acre) below regional average

Input Costs Acceptable

Annual operating costs ($2,700/acre) within typical farm budgets

Payback Period OK

Reaches full production in 4 years; acceptable payback

Insurance Available

Federal crop insurance available

Revenue Per Labor Hour

Revenue per labor hour ($38) is competitive

Grants/Subsidies

Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)

Economics Breakdown

Avg Price/Unit	$280//ton
Gross Revenue/Acre	$6,500
Annual Operating Cost	$2,700/acre
Establishment Cost	$18,000/acre
Total Input Cost	—/acre
Net Return/Acre	$1,500
Revenue/Labor Hour	—
Crop Insurance	Available

Source: Cornell Grape Program; Penn State Grape Business Management (2025)

Risk Fit

1/6

Manageable Pest/Disease

Significant pest/disease pressure requiring intensive management

Market Diversified

High dependence on single buyer or volatile niche market

Low Establishment Risk

High establishment risk; significant investment and years before returns

Climate Resilient

Climate-sensitive; vulnerable to late frost, variable winters

Regulatory Burden Low

Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale

Diversifies Portfolio

Remains in grape category; does not diversify revenue portfolio

Known Risks

disease

Black rothigh

Guignardia bidwellii causes rapid fruit rot in warm wet springs and can destroy entire clusters if unmanaged.

Powdery mildewhigh

Erysiphe necator infects leaves, shoots, and berries, cracking fruit and ruining table appearance.

Downy mildewhigh

Plasmopara viticola defoliates vines and rots young clusters under humid, rainy conditions.

Phomopsis cane and leaf spotmoderate

Early-season lesions on rachis and shoots weaken clusters and reduce fruit set.

Botrytis bunch rothigh

Gray mold rots tight table-grape clusters near harvest, especially in wet finishes.

pest

Grape berry mothmoderate

Larvae feed inside berries, opening entry points for rot and downgrading fresh clusters.

Grape phylloxeramoderate

Root and leaf forms weaken vines; own-rooted vines on susceptible sites decline over time.

Spotted lanternflyhigh

This invasive planthopper feeds heavily on grapevines, reducing vigor and winter hardiness where established.

Birds and wildlifemoderate

Ripening table grapes are highly attractive to birds and deer, causing direct crop loss.

weather

Winter cold injurymoderate

Table-grape cultivars vary in hardiness; severe cold kills buds and trunks in colder zones.

Spring frost on young shootsmoderate

Frost after bud break kills primary shoots and reduces the crop.

market

High perishability and labormoderate

Fresh table grapes require hand harvest, careful handling, and rapid cooling for a short-shelf-life market.

Nutritional Yield

Nutrition data pending.

Research agents will profile Table Grape against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.

Ecosystem Services

Soil health

Cover-crop soil building
moderate
Row-middle cover crops add organic matter and improve infiltration between vine rows.
Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium

Erosion control

Perennial cover with sod row middles
moderate
Established vineyards with cover-cropped or sod row middles hold soil and reduce erosion on slopes.
Applies when: With vegetated row middles
Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium

Carbon sequestration

Perennial woody biomass
moderate
Long-lived vines and permanent trunks store carbon in woody tissue and roots over the vineyard life.
Evidence: Peer-reviewed·Confidence: medium

Biodiversity

Habitat from row-middle vegetation
moderate
Cover crops and vineyard margins support beneficial insects and ground-nesting fauna.
Applies when: When margins/covers maintained
Evidence: Extension guidance·Confidence: medium

Cultural / aesthetic

Agritourism and scenic value
moderate
Vineyards contribute scenic landscape value and support agritourism and u-pick experiences.
Evidence: Industry consensus·Confidence: medium

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:

National Grape Cooperative Association

Westfield, NY · 13.4 mi

cooperative

Accepts contracts

Eden Valley Growers

Eden, NY · 30.0 mi

cooperative

Accepts contracts

Data Sources

Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.

Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.

Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie View economics source →

78 tracked changes across 11 data categories