Grape growers anticipate big harvest
This looks like a banner year for grape producers in New York, according to the latest federal forecast.
The state’s producers, who are concentrated in Western New York and in the Finger Lakes, are expected to harvest 170,000 tons of grapes, based on the report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service. That’s up 28 percent from 133,000 tons a year ago.
The increase was attributed to unusually good growing conditions, with warm days, plenty of sunshine, and a sufficient amount of precipitation.
The national outlook for the grape industry is not as strong, with U.S. grape production expected to decline 3 percent this year.
New York is the nation’s third-largest producer of grapes, trailing only California and Washington state.
The forecasts are not as strong for other large fruit crops. The National Agricultural Statistics Service says that the 2010 apple crop will be 13 percent smaller in New York and 4 percent smaller nationwide. And the pear crop is expected to shrink by 20 percent in New York and 11 percent nationwide.