Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2006
CONTACT: Sonia Schloemann, UMass Extension Small
Fruit Specialist, 413-545-4347
New Table Grape Varieties are Out of this World
Table grapes? Named after planets? In New England?
You bet.
UMass Amherst fruit researchers studying the potential for growing seedless table grapes in New England have 12 varieties in full production at the UMass Cold Spring Orchard Research and Education Center in Belchertown, Mass.
UMass Extension researcher Sonia Schloemann notes
that some of the most interesting are from a series of varieties developed
at the University of Arkansas and named after planets.
Mars, Neptune and Jupiter are among the varieties
being harvested now.
“Customers who come to the Cold Spring Orchard Store are responding very
favorably to these grapes,” says Schloemann. “The variety of subtle
flavors and textures has a big ‘wow’ factor. Customers comment
that these varieties are much more interesting than those found in the supermarket
and sell out almost as fast as I can pick them.”
The varieties being tested are cold hardy varieties developed specifically for northern regions of the United States at breeding programs in Michigan and New York, as well as Arkansas. They include seedless red varieties like Vanessa, Canadice, and Reliance; green varieties like Marquis, Himrod, Neptune, and Lakemont; and blue varieties like Mars, Venus, Jupiter, and Concord seedless. One unique seeded variety included in the trial is one from Japan called Kyoho which is the one of the most widely planted grape varieties in that country.
The rationale for setting up a trial at the UMass Cold Spring Orchard is to show commercial fruit growers how these varieties perform and how best to grow them.
Many Massachusetts farms are looking for opportunities to diversify into high value crops in order to stay in business. Seedless table grapes provide such an opportunity for some farms. Sales at the orchard store also provide some insight into customer reaction to these new crops or new varieties. Growers and general public can come and learn about these varieties, taste them in season, and see how they grow. The UMass Cold Spring Orchard store (http://www.coldspringorchard.com) is open daily, 10-5, beginning August 12. Many educational programs are also held at this facility.
Visit the website to learn more.
