“Mesa grapes": Table grapes as an alternative crop in Western Colorado

Commodities

• Fruits: grapes

Practices

• Crop Production: varieties and cultivars
• Education and Training: extension, on-farm/ranch research

Table grapes are a niche crop in the United States, accounting
for 36% of all grape production, primarily in California. 
There is increasing producer interest and consumer demand for
local table grape production, especially certified organic. 
Small and large fruit producers alike in Western Colorado are
hoping to enter this market.  Based on exploratory surveys,
table grapes fetch a high price per pound and depending on the
variety, can perform well in our high elevation environment,
suggesting it can be a viable alternative crop for this region
for both economic and agronomic reasons.  Producers are now
asking for support for selection of the best varieties for both
environmental conditions and consumer preference.  Due to
our alkaline soil, irrigation constraints, and unpredictable fall
and spring freeze events, selection of cultivars ideal for
Colorado is a complicated endeavor.  At the Colorado State
University’s Western Colorado Research Center at Rogers Mesa, we
have collected four years of preliminary data on 26 table grape
varieties.  Using this knowledge, we hope to revitalize this
experiment with newly released varieties and the top performers
from the previous trial.  Additionally, with cooperation
from our participant producers, we will measure plant health,
crop yield, cold tolerance, and consumer taste preferences on
using established vineyards.  We will share these results
and facilitate open collaboration between producers interested in
pursuing this unique alternative crop.  This project will
help to expand the options for producers in our unique climate
and inform the public on best organic practices for table grape
production.

Project Objective 1: Perform data collection on table grape
variety performance and vineyard management on participant
producer land and a newly established variety trial at the
Western Colorado Research Center at Rogers Mesa. 

Project Objective 2: Collect consumer preference data through
hosting taste tests at public and CSU-led events.

Project Objective 3: Create and distribute research results,
training modules, and educational seminars via social media, fact
sheets, workshops, videos, and conferences.