Have a grape idea? Make something great to win some $$

Mike Murphy, MPNnow
·4 min read

GENEVA — Here's a toast to a great grape idea.

Applications are being accepted through Aug. 1 for the New York Concord Grape Innovation Award, a business competition aimed at stimulating innovation and development of new products and markets for one of the state’s largest grape industries.

Funded by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets and organized and hosted by Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, the competition will award more than $100,000 in cash prizes and packages of support from Cornell experts.

The competition is split into two categories: best new Concord grape beverage and best new Concord grape-based product.

Awards, decided by a judging panel of industry, government and academic leaders, will be given to the top three applicants in each category. The proposals will be judged on market readiness, innovative approach, economic impact to the Concord grape industry, potential for expanded use of Concord grapes and percentage of Concord grape in the product. Proposed products must contain at least 30% Concord grape.

Here’s what Sam Filler, executive director of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation, has to say about the Concord grape:

“The Concord grape has an important legacy in New York state and it remains a vital part of the state’s agriculture economy,” Filler stated. “Finding innovative uses for Concord will ensure it remains a valuable grape variety for growers.”

Monica Schenk places a crust on a grape pie ready for sale at her shop in Naples. A contest is underway for new uses or products with the Concord grape, which can be used to make delicious grape pies.
Monica Schenk places a crust on a grape pie ready for sale at her shop in Naples. A contest is underway for new uses or products with the Concord grape, which can be used to make delicious grape pies.

Finalists for each category will compete in a judging symposium on Dec. 9 at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. In addition to the prize packages, winning products will also be featured at Taste NY welcome centers and markets across the state.

The idea for the competition grew from the 2018 New York State Concord Grape Summit, held at the Grape Discovery Center in Chautauqua County to bolster the industry, which has suffered from low prices and consumer demand, labor shortage and ever-increasing production costs in recent years.

According to Cathy Young, executive director of the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture, Concord grapes make up around 80% of the total tonnage of all grapes grown in the state, with the greatest concentration of production being in the Lake Erie region. Statewide, around 121,000 tons of Concord grapes are grown annually on some 30,000 acres of vineyards.

The link to apply, as well as a full breakdown of the guidelines and awards, is available at cals.cornell.edu/concord-grape-award.

Berry, berry good

Breaking news from the New York State Berry Growers Association that may provide a reason why strawberry shortcake seems to taste that much better this year.

Strawberries are flourishing this year, thanks to a cool, rainy early spring that produced prime conditions for budding plants, the growers group reports.

Farmers in the state are reporting bumper crops of the fruit, some measuring as large as two inches wide, with minimal green tips and a lightly sweet fragrance.

Michelle Pearls of Farmington picks strawberries at Chase Farms in Fairport.
Michelle Pearls of Farmington picks strawberries at Chase Farms in Fairport.

Although New York State farmers grow a variety of strawberries, June-bearing strawberries are the most popular. These produce the largest fruits, which grow for two to three weeks and are usually sweetest in late June.

So the case is closed when it comes to Fourth of July picnic desserts. Strawberry shortcake, strawberries and vanilla ice cream or just plain strawberries.

But, blueberries are good, too.

Opening day for blueberry picking at Syrup A'LaRue at ACMME Farms in Clifton Springs will be from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday, July 6, at the farm, 927 LaRue Road. After that, hours will be Mondays, 4 to 8 p.m.; Wednesdays, 8 a.m. to noon; Thursdays, 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, 8 a.m. to noon.

The New York State Berry Growers Association is a nonprofit educational association for berry growers, from large wholesale family farms to independent farm stands and small pick-your-own operations.

Summer camps for kid cooks

New York Kitchen in Canandaigua is offering several Junior Chef pop-up camps next week.

Camps are offered each day for teens and kids, beginning Tuesday, July 5. Teen cooking camps are for ages 12 to 18 only; Kid's Table camps are for ages 8 to 11 only.

There are a few openings left in NYK’s five-day cooking camps. For details, visit https://www.nykitchen.com/.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: Make something great with a Concord grape