UNIVERSITY PARK -
Seedless table grapes grown in
Pennsylvania may be able to
capture at least one-third of the
market now going to Thompson
Seedless grapes from California.
This conclusion came from a
study earned out recently by
College of Agriculture marketing
specialists at Penn State. The
findings were reported at a
symposium on research for
operators of small fam\s, held
Tuesday at" a symposium on
research for operators of small
farms, held Tuesday’ at the
Agncultural Research Center of
the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Beltsville, Md.
“Consumers like, the locally
grown seedless table grapes once
they become familiar with them”
declared Carl W. Haeseler, Penn
State scientist in grape culture.
He said grape growing offers an
opportunity for fannies on small
farms to increase their income.
However, such farm operators
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Local table grapes could capture one-third of market
often find it difficult to sell grapes
through large-scale commercial
channels because of the small
volume of grapes grown. The best
solution seems to be in selling
grapes through farm and roadside
markets.
Marketing aspects of the study
were directed by Laurence L.
Yager of the Cooperative Ex
tension Service, College of
Agriculture. Yager and associates
compared the new seedless variety
Lakemont with California
Thompson Seedless. Sales of the
two varieties were compared at
three roadside fruit and vegetable
stands one each in Berks,
Cumberland, and Lancaster
counties.
initially, consumers were un
familiar with Pennsylvania-grown
table grapes. After trying them,
buyers spokc highly of their flavor
and texture.
The well-known Thompson
Seedless grapes sold three times
the volume of Lakemont. Con-
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sumers said they bought the
California grapes for their known
quality and the larger size com
pared to Lakemont. Earlier
studies showed, however, that
small size was not objectionable.
Part of the study featured
Lakemont grapes stored at 33 to
35* Fahrenheit for a month in
sulfur dioxide atmosphere. Grapes
thus stored remained in good
condition for at least a month.
Grapes spoiled when stored for a
month without sulfur dioxide at
mosphere.
“Sulfur dioxide storage can
provide a more orderly marketing
pattern than now possible by ex
tending sales beyond the short
harvest time,” Haeseler com
mented.
He indicated the demand for
seedless table grapes is highest
during Halloween, Thanksgiving,
and Christmas seasons. Com
petition from Thompson Seedless
is greatest in September and
October.
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"If local grapes could be stored
in good condition until the heavy
supplies of Thompson Seedless
clear the market, local grapes
could find a ready market,” he
added.
Yager and Haeseler say they
believe local grape owners could
compete with California
producers, suice shipping costs are
increasing. At tV time of the
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study, the cost for shipping table
grapes from California to Penn
sylvania was about 10 cents a
pound.
Initially, the Lakemonts were
sold at the same price as the
Thompson Seedless. If the
Lakemonts did not sell after two
days, the price was dropped 10 or
20 cents below Thompson Seedless