1,000 Farms Hit by Smallest Concord Grape Harvest Since '77

By CnAgri Print

In spite of multiple curve balls pitched by Mother Nature this year -- summertime temperatures in March, freezing temperatures in April, and drought conditions in June through August -- the Concord grape harvest of 2012 is yielding fruit that is as tasty as ever, even though there are fewer of them. Welch's family farmers worked tirelessly to get the harvest in so that families across the country can continue to enjoy the real grape goodness of Welch's all year long.

Although every growing season is slightly different and provides unique challenges, this year was particularly trying. Due to the extreme weather fluctuation in North America, this harvest generated the smallest crop since 1977.

"We battled the weather again this year and by working day and night we were able to harvest some exceptional fruit that met Welch's strict quality standards," said one of Welch's family-farmer-owners, Jamie Militello. "Grape growing has been in my family for generations and that experience helped me to identify when my grapes were at their peak of freshness and flavor, pick them quickly, and deliver them to Welch's within eight hours to be pressed into juice."

A shorter harvest, as a result of a damaged crop, demands that farmers put exceptional care into their grapes, inspect, and test them regularly and work around the clock to collect their fruit at just the right time.

"We get one shot at harvest each year for the Concord grapes that will go into Welch's products for the whole year across the entire country," remarks Militello.

"One thing I have learned by working with Welch's over the past few years is that no two crops are ever the same because the weather and growing conditions from year to year are never exactly the same," commented food historian, scientist, and Food Network Star Alton Brown. "It's amazing to me that no matter how different each harvest season is Welch's is able to consistently deliver the juice flavor I've loved since childhood year after year."

Concord grapes are mainly grown in upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Washington, and in select locations within Canada.