Mechanical crop adjustment improves juice quality and decreases vineyard production costs. Processing juice grapes make up a majority of the New York grape market. Improving overall juice quality improves returns for the juice processors. Decreasing vineyard production costs improves profitability for grape producers.
impact statement issue
Low juice grape prices have caused growers to try and produce more grapes per acre to stay economically viable. Excessively high crops have decreased juice quality. All juice grape producers and processors are affected by this research.
impact statement response
Increasing the functional leaf area to fruit weight ratio in vineyards can improve vine health and fruit maturity. In New York Concord vineyards, we have developed and tested a method of mechanical crop estimation and adjustment to improve vineyard crop load. Adjusting the Concord crop one month after bloom increases the rate of fruit maturity during ripening and leads to higher juice sugar, color, and flavor at harvest.
impact statement summary
Mechanical crop estimation and adjustment in New York Concord vineyards increases the rate of fruit maturity during ripening and leads to higher juice sugar, color, and flavor at harvest. Since color compounds can be related to the health benefits of purple grape juice, we are currently testing the effect of Concord crop adjustment on juice anti-oxidant capacity.
