Washington Wine Grape Production Is Up

Washington Wine Grape Production Is Up. I’m Greg Martin with today’s Fruit Grower Report.

The Washington wine industry is booming. USDA's National Ag Statistics Service recently released their figures for the 2009 growing season. 2009 wine grape production totaled 165-thousand tons, up 14% from 2008 and growers received an average of $988 a ton for all varieties. Northwest Ag Information Network’s Lacy Gray has more.

GRAY: Of the total wine grapes produced, 55 percent were white and 45 percent were red varieties. Production of white varieties increased 20 percent from last year compared to a 7 percent increase in red varieties. White Riesling was the top variety grown in the state at 35,000 tons or 21 percent of the total state production. Chardonnay ranked second, at 34,700 tons, also with 21 percent of the total. In third place was Cabernet Sauvignon with 28,500 tons, or 17 percent of the total. Merlot ranked fourth with 26,700 tons or 16 percent of the total. The average White Riesling price per ton decreased $31 from last year to $781 and the average Chardonnay price per ton was down $26 from last year to $857. Growers received an average of $1,276 per ton for Cabernet Sauvignon, $30 per ton less than 2008. The average Merlot price per ton decreased $38 from last year to $1,088.

Growers are getting ready for the 2010 growing season and if trends continue, it should be another record setting year.

That’s today’s Fruit Grower Report. I’m Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.