Project Overview
Commodities
- Fruits: grapes
Practices
- Crop Production: varieties and cultivars
- Education and Training: extension, on-farm/ranch research
Proposal abstract:
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 objectives from proposal:
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.