Harvest Time in Concord Country… The Grape Taste That’s Great for Your Health: Concord Grape Juice

Fall means harvest time in Concord country, as well as the perfect time to enjoy a natural fruit beverage that’s also good for your health: Concord grape juice.

Numerous studies have shown that the powerful antioxidants in Concord grape juice have significant health benefits for people of all ages, from babies to baby boomers. Reduced risk of heart disease, boosting the immune system, and memory enhancement are just a few of the health benefits that regular, moderate consumption of Concord grape juice provides. Concord grape juice is also fat free and cholesterol free.

Concord grape juice is also a versatile beverage, from the rich fruity taste of a glass by itself to an exercise-enhancing mixture with seltzer water and unique flavoring for several recipes. It’s a perfect breakfast drink, a great energy booster with seltzer before and after exercise, a healthful “smoothie” mixed with nonfat vanilla yogurt with a pinch of cinnamon, and ideal for a rich Concord reduction sauce for chicken and other treats like poached pears.

These and more recipes, and information about the unique health benefits of Concord grape juice, are available at www.healthyconcordgrapes.com.

Concord grape juice is also healthy for New York State’s economy. Of the 32,000 acres of grapes grown in New York, about two-thirds are Concord, with an annual grape harvest exceeding 100,000 tons each year. The vast majority of Concords are used for grape juice processed by cooperatives such as National Grape Cooperative Association (Welch’s) and Growers Cooperative, which are actually owned by the growers themselves. In other words, the products and the companies are truly “local”.

The Concord grape and grape juice industry is also an important part of the overall grape, grape juice and wine industry which contributes over $3.4 billion to New York State’s economy, and over $162 billion to the national economy. In western New York alone, where most Concords are grown, the industry contributes $141 million to the regional economy.

The annual Concord harvest in September and October is a special time. Large clusters of deep blue Concord grapes release their aromas throughout the countryside, where giant mechanical harvesters gather the ripe fruit for delivery to the processing facilities. The 2007 harvest, following a year of excellent weather, appears to be particularly promising.

The New York Wine & Grape Foundation is helping celebrate the Concord grape harvest, and promoting the health benefits of Concord grape juice, through radio and television commercials, a full-page advertisement in Wegmans Menu magazine’s holiday issue, and a special media seminar on October 11 & 12 at the New York Wine & Culinary Center.

After harvest, as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, Concord grape growers celebrate another year with a toast of the healthful purple juice, served with Thanksgiving dinner and at year-end holiday gatherings. They encourage you to do the same, with the simple phrase, “Here’s to your health.”

Media Contact: Jim Trezise, President, New York Wine & Grape Foundation, 585-394-3620, jimtrezise@nywgf.org

Concord Update 10-4-2007

The final Concord berry weight and juice soluble solids were taken from the crop adjustment experiment at the Cornell Vineyard Laboratory in Portland, NY on 10/2/2007. Final berry weight settled in at 2.78 g, approximately 8-10% below the eight year average. With the above average weather conditions for late September, the juice soluble solids continued to increase at above average rates. Final juice soluble solids for these count vines averaged 17.6° brix.