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

100%

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

Drainage

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

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

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

Risk data for this crop is being collected. Check back soon.

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

Ecosystem service data pending.

The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.

Nearby Buyers

Radius from Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt:

No registered buyers for this crop within 50 miles.

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 →

23 tracked changes across 6 data categories