Seedless grape vineyards east of the Rocky Mountains is fraught with problems. Establishing a High Tunnel Seedless Grape Vineyard East of the Rocky Mountains is the answer. The unpredictable weather brings rains that often come at the wrong times. Our Missouri heat can be brutal during the summer, or somewhat comparatively mild. Funguses thrive in the warm humid summers. Other diseases are well established. Grape pests have plagued viticulturists for centuries. And, predators are many.
Historically, Missouri is a wine producing area. Prior to prohibition, Missouri boasted the third largest winery in the world, with New York coming second, and France coming first. Missouri wines were shipped down the Missouri and Mississippi rivers to be shipped around the world. Missouri also boasts 5 American Viticulture Areas (AVAs) – regions that have unique attributes like soil and climate – and the Augusta AVA was the first AVA established in the USA. And, Missouri still boasts a well developed and thriving viticulture and wine industry.
Yet, seedless grape production for table use is virtually nil. The only seedless table grapes are produced by backyard gardeners for their own use. No commercial production is known to exist. Why? Again, the weather and diseases can damage the grapes and after harvest processing is too expensive to compete with table grapes from California, and even Chili. So, virtually all grapes grown in Missouri, in fact, east of the Rocky Mountains, are used for wine, juice and jelly where split or discolored grapes do not make a difference.
So, what can we do? Up to now, nothing that we knew of. But, the University of Arkansas did a pilot study, published here https://www.uaex.uada.edu/farm-ranch/crops-commercial-horticulture/horticulture/commercial-fruit-production/high-tunnel-grape-production.aspx, showing that seedless table grape production is potentially viable. Dr. Elena Garcia first established vines in an existing high tunnel, and after 2 years, demonstrated that vineyards in high tunnels had lower disease issues and pests were very much limited. Her results are published in AATRA. A follow up study, published here https://attra.ncat.org/publication/high-tunnel-grapes-establishment/#cultivar, at the University of Arkansas further done by Renee Threlfall explained some general information about raising grapes in high tunnels, and evaluated 3 University of Arkansas varietals. This study was funded by SARE and also published in AATRA. Another study done by the University of Nebraska done under the guidance of Dr. Paul Reed also demonstrated that successful production of seedless table grapes is possible. His results are published in CEAg World here https://www.ceagworld.com/grapes/table-grapes-grown-in-high-tunnels-flourish-in-the-midwest/.
In addition to the reduced disease and pest issues, having a vineyard in a high tunnel allows for more control of climactic conditions. With these issues vastly reduced, these studies showed that not only can you produce a sellable bunch of grapes, but that the quality is very high and labor inputs to cull damaged grapes is very minimal. As well as a quality produce, it is found that yields are 2 to 3 times greater and crops come earlier in the season. This should make table grape production a viable and profitable achievement.
Has this yet been done outside of a university study? Has a commercial farmer east of the Rockies had any success with this? None that I can discover, and I have asked many viticulture experts. So, I have applied for a SARE grant to develop a blueprint for establishing a high tunnel vineyard, and to share this information with specialty crop producers and farmers. Wish me luck on obtaining said grant and perhaps in a few short summers, you too can have a fresh, high quality grape for your table.
Mike