Executive Summary

The purpose of this case study is to provide a more thorough analysis of a

situation and provides an overview of the grapes production and marketing in the
world. Identify the ways to increase the production of grapes with low cost, the
marketing issues, and the ways to improve the marketing efficiency. Grapes fruit is
packed with full of health-benefiting nutrients and unique antioxidants. Therefore, the
future prospects of the production of grapes will depend on its ability to meet the
changing consumer demand more efficient than competing products in the long term.
The recommendations to the industry includes more marketing research on future
consumer demand for grapes products and on new product development, development
of grading system of the fruits and provision of market information.

Introduction

Grapes can be said to be the oldest cultivated fruit. Grapes were found in
Egyptian tombs as well as in the tombs of pre-Christ era. This proves the popularity of
grapes. If asked to name the worlds number one fruits, most individual will probably
guess apple, banana or orange. While none can rival the amount of grapes produced
throughout the world. Grapes are natives of Western Asia and Central Europe. The
botanical name of grapes is namily vitaceae. Native species are known for their cold
hardiness and disease resistance. Their fruits have lower sugar content, higher acid
content which make it to be a poor combination for making good wine and are slip
skin. The old world grapes which found in Europe and the near East are botanically
known as Vitis vinifera. This species has more than 10,000 varieties. The chemical
composition of its fruits is superior to that of native grapes for winemaking.
Production of V.vinifera today in the United States is limitied to regions with mild
winters, long growing seasons and summers that are fairly dry with low relative
humidity. South America and North Eastern America are the places of origin of other
varieties, known as the New World species. Its botanical name is Vitis rotundifolia.
It is known as Muscadine grapes which are noted for their small berries that have a
bold, musky flavor. It was found in the southeastern region of North America. This
species are nearly immune from insects and diseases but require a growing season of
200 days or more. Muscadine grapes production is limited to states which have mild
winters such as Florida. The fox grapes, botanically named as Vitis labrusca, were
found by the Vikings who explored the eastern seaside of Northern America long
before Columbus. The quest to produces grapes with superior wine-making qualities
coupled with cold hardiness and disease resistance had led to the development of
French-American hybrids. Crossing species of European grape with various species of
North American grape gave rise to very productive adequate cold hardiness to be
produced with the ability to tolerate many troublesome diseases.
Although wine can represent the most expensive and creative use of grapes it
is not the only use. Grapes can be eaten fresh as table grapes, dried as raisin or
processed into jams, jellies and juices. According to the Food and Agriculture
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Organisation (FAO), 75,866 square kilometers of the world are dedicated to grapes.
Approximately 71% of world grape production is used for wine, 27% as fresh fruit,
and 2% as dried fruit. During 2012, more than 7.3 million tons of grapes were grown
commercially in the United States. California accounted for nearly 6.7 million tons, or
over 90 percent of these grapes. Other top grape-growing states include Washington
and New York (NASS 2013).
The fresh grapes industry only accounts a small portion of the total grapes
grown. In year 2012, more than 1.0 million tons of grapes were produced with a value
of more than $1.3 billion (NASS 2013). Most of these grapes produced are marketed
to supermarket or exported. The quantity of U.S. grapes processed into juice declined
in 2012, with only 339,490 tons of grapes being processed. The total value of crop
was approximately $100.1 million (NASS 2013). The promotion of fruits and
vegetables as healthy dietary choice has help to increase consumption of grapes. The
consumption of fresh grapes has increased from 2.9 pounds per person in 1970 to 7.9
pounds in year 2009. U.S. consumption of grape juice totaled 4.1 pounds per person
that year (ERS 2009). In year 2010, more than 328,000 metric tons (MT) of fresh
grapes which is an 8% increase from 2009 were exported from the United States to
more than 80 different countries. Canada, the most important destination purchase
nearly 96,700 MT of fresh grapes while Hong Kong purchased nearly 35,600 MT. The
United States exported $86.7 million of grapes juice in 2010, primarily to Canada and
Japan (FAS 2010). In Victoria, 2017 persons were estimated to be employed growing
grapes in year 2012.

Objectives

The objectives of the study is to investigate the grapes production and improve the
quality of the cherry fruits. Maximize the output of the plantation with lower cost and
energy but with high profit. The grapes plantation is a component of current economic
status especially in agriculture sector.
The specific aims of this case study is:
1. To provide overview of grapes production.
2. To proposed engineering and biological methods to increase the yield of the
grapes production by taking few methods of improvement into consideration.
3. To investigate the problems and solutions to solves the issue regarding grapes
production.
4. To study the sustainability issue of the cherry plantation

Problems and Opportunity Identification

The overall problem of the case study of the cherry plantation has been identified.
These problem are listed as below:

Soil type

Insect such as mites

Weather and climate variation

Fungal diseases

Weeds

Vertebrate and pests

The fruit has been spoiled during transportation

Labor management and picker skill during harvest

For the opportunity identification of the cherry plantation, there have several methods
to overcome the problems. These methods are listed as below:

Grafting onto a resistant rootstock

Do not fertilize in the first year unless you have problem soil, only fertilize
lightly in the second year of growth

Practice pest management by hire Pest Control Adviser(PCA)

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Handle the water relations, harvest maturity and also light intensity

Adjusting cultural practices to make conditions unfavorable for pests or

pathogens

A short training period is required for harvesting and packaging grape

Renewable energy from the sun present agricultural operators with an

opportunity to decrease their utility costs

Grapes harvested at low temperature and kept at low metabolic or

physiological activities have more shelf life.

System Analysis
The neatly arranged packs of grapes you see in the market are the culmination of the
months of work preparing, growing, harvesting and marketing this fruit.
There are multiple and interlacing factors to consider when starting a vineyard. In
selecting a site, the average length of the ripening season, the normal annual weather
conditions, the soil type and chemistry, fertility and drainage, the topography, sun
exposure, and likely pest problems should all be taken into account. Locate your vines
so that they receive the best possible access to sunlight. Another consideration is soil
fertility. A good steep slope is perfect for grape growing because it can reduce
exposure to heat or cold depending on its aspect
In grapes planting, prepare the soil, pH balance, nutrients, row direction, and vine
spacing, includes specific care instructions for grape vines during the planting phase.
pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is optimum for vine nutrient intake. In most vineyards the
Grape vines are planted in row for best airflow and maximum sunlight. They are
commonly planted in rows 8 feet apart but they can be as close as 4 feet between the
rows and as close as 3 feet apart in the row. High-density plantings are possible, but
they come with higher establishment costs and require more intensive management.

Once the vines are planted, the trellis system should be constructed followed by the
installation of a drip irrigation system if one is planned. The "T" trellis consists of the
first wire at 52 inches above the ground with two wires 48 inches apart at 69 to 72
inches above the ground. The end posts used for the trellis should be treated wooden
posts approximately 6 to 8 inches in diameter set at a 75-degree angle from the
ground for support. The posts in the row should be either steel posts or treated
wooden posts that are a minimum of 3 inches in diameter. These posts should be 8
feet long to ensure the correct height of the top wire and should match your training
system. The fruiting wire should be a minimum of 12.5-gauge high-tensile wire.
Wires other than fruiting wires may be 9-gauge or more high-tensile wire.
Grape vine pruning is a relatively simple concept of which grape vine growers seem
to grasp fairly quickly. The time to prune grape vine is about a month before spring.
Pruning and training helps develop a structure that will aid the utilization of sunlight
and help adapt to the characteristics of a particular grape variety. This will help to
maintain economical and efficient vineyard practices. Pruning is usually completed in
February or March before the buds open (usually in April in southeastern
Pennsylvania). Pruning is essential to control the size and shape of the vine. Mature
vines will produce much more wood than they can support or is needed. Typically, 90
percent of the new growth is removed during the pruning process.
The two most effective means of disease control are good canopy management and
preventative fungicides treatments. Fungicide should be used on a regular basis and it
should be done in a preventative maintenance manner. Canopy management is the
thinning and positioning of leaves, stems and fruit clusters during the summer.
Removing fruit clusters also can help produce significantly higher wine quality.
Disease control is greatly assisted by proper air drainage and pruning techniques but
other control measures may be needed. Use insect specific insecticides to eradicate
insects you have identified as damaging to the vines. If potential wildlife damage is a
concern in your vineyard, grow tubes may be necessary to protect the young vines,
and other measures will be necessary to protect the crop. Some of the most effective
bird controls are noise makers, including LP gas cannons and pyrotechnics
Wine grape harvest generally begins in mid-September and continues through midOctober, starting with white varieties and ending with red varieties. Grapes may be
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harvested either by hand or mechanically. Do not store unrefrigerated grapes for more
than 12 hours as this will result in decreased quality and flavor. Refrigerated grapes
should be stored at 35 to 40 degrees, but for no more than two to three days. Any
extended storage will decrease the quality and flavor and possibly the value of the
crop.
Grape bunches are packed the day after or later, in relation with the market request.
The use of adequate precooling techniques, rapidly removing the field and the
respiration heats, can reduce the water loss because minimizes the exposure of grapes
to low vapor pressure conditions. Grape should be loaded in truck trailer or container
at the optimum temperature level and this level should be strictly maintained in order
to preserve the grape quality during the transport period.

Design Framework

Select a suitable
site for vineyard

Pest and disease

control

Harvesting and
yields

Land
preparation and
preplanting

Training and
pruning of wine

Its ready for

shipment to the
market

Prepare soil pH
balance,
nutrient and
organic matter
for planting

Establish grapes
trellis systems

Control Procedure to Improvement of System

Selecting Grape Varieties
Choose the varieties to plant depend on what kind of wine you want to make, climate
and location. Choose a variety of grape that not only will make good wine but will
ripen and mature its fruit properly at least in most years. The best wines come from
varieties of the classic European wine grape, Vitis vinifera. The price per ton for
French-American and V. vinifera hybrids can be five to ten times higher than for
native varieties. For native varieties, the goal is to produce as many tons per acre as
possible due to their lower selling price. For hybrid and V. vinifera varieties used
primarily for wine production, quality, not quantity is the main production goal.
Quality grapes are of paramount importance to the winemaker because they have a
direct impact on the quality of the wine.

Site Selection
Site selection is possibly the most important component when planning a vineyard.
For a vineyard location, a soil depth of 30 to 70 inches is needed to promote optimal
root growth. Deep root penetration is necessary for a healthy root system and vine.
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Digging one to two pits 3 or more feet deep with a shovel or backhoe will help
determine the soil structure. An ideal site has a gentle 3 to 10 percent slope, although
be planted at the time the vineyard is established. Proper air drainage will also
promote drying of the vines in the morning and after rainfall. Good air drainage will
reduce the chance of frost damage to the crop during late spring and early fall cold
snaps.

Land Preparation and Preplanting

A soil test is recommended one year prior to planting the vineyard. The pH of the soil
can range from 5.5 to 7.0. The species V. labrusca, which is primarily grown in colder
and eastern climates of the United States, requires a soil that is more acidic and can
grow in soils that have a pH of 5.5 or slightly below. V.vinifera requires a soil that is
more alkaline and can grow in soils with a pH of 7.0 or slightly higher. Either species
can adapt to the climate in which you live depending on the variety of grape you
choose. For general purposes, the pH should range between 6.0 and 7.0.

Disease management
Few cultural management options are available to control downy mildew in
established vineyards. Trellising systems and pruning can be used to manage the leaf
canopy to minimize leaf wetness. Avoid increasing humidity and leaf wetness at night
to mitigate secondary infection. Genetic resistance is carry out. Interspecific hybrids
of V. vinifera and the North American species have yielded cultivars with good winegrape qualities and greater resistance to downy mildew. There are several active
research programs to genetically modify V. vinifera cultivars to include disease
resistance. Both pre-infection (protective) and post-infection (systemic or penetrant)
fungicides are widely used for the control of downy mildew. Pre-infection chemicals
are applied prior to, but as close as possible to an infection event. Post-infection
fungicides are more costly than pre-infection fungicides and are best used sparingly.

Grapes Handling
Main problems with hand harvest are due to labor management and picker skill.
Moreover quality is such an important aspect in successful marketing that hand
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harvest is still the only method used for table grapes. Management should be very
careful for effective use of hand labor. A short training period is necessary for
harvesting and packaging grape according to the market request. At the present, table
grapes harvesting is carried out by the picker that selects the bunch and cuts the stem
using very sharp shears. Before releasing the bunch in the box, the picker generally
removes brown and moldy berries. The picker detaches, trims and cleans the bunch,
the packer places the bunch in the shipping container and arranges the packing
materials like the sponges tissue paper that are used to improve product appearance
and to reduce bruising among the bunches during the following operations.

Shipping
Temperatures should be maintained as close as possible to that level of the storage
temperature. However to reduce the risk of freezing injury of grape, especially of
packages located close to the cold air outlet, the thermostat setting (temperature
control) should be set above not lower than 0C. Grape should be loaded in truck
trailer or container at the optimum temperature level and this level should be strictly
maintained in order to preserve the grape quality during the transport period. In order
to maintain the temperatures uniform throughout the load with a variation of 0.5 C,
leakage from the insulated surface or from the doors gasket, long exposure to sun
radiation, inadequate air circulation should be avoided.

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Sustainability Issues
The United States wine, grape and grape products industries contribute more than
$162 billion annually to the American economy, according to a comprehensive study
by MKF Research LLC of Napa Valley unveiled on Capitol Hill by the Congressional
Wine Caucus on January 17. The comprehensive study, titled The Impact of Wine,
Grapes and Grape Products on the American Economy: Family Businesses Building
Value, measures the full economic impact of the grape, wine, grape juice, table grape
and raisin industries in terms of employment, agricultural statistics, product revenues,
taxes, and many other indices. Included in the study are impacts from the grape,
wine, grape juice, table grape and raisin industries, the first time all grape products
have been measured in the same study.
The wine and grape industry in North Carolina has contributed greatly to the
economic strength of the state. North Carolinas wine, grape and related industries
have increased the total economic value to the state of North Carolina from
approximately $813 million in 2005 to $1.28 billion in 2009, or an increase of 58.0%.
As the number of North Carolina wineries increase, so does the number of tourists
visiting them (from 800,000 tourists in 2005 to 1.3 million tourists in 2009). Wine,

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grapes and related industries account for nearly 7,575 jobs in North Carolina, with an
associated payroll in excess of $237 million.
Overall the wine quality impacts and challenges related to climate change and shifts
in climate maturity potential will likely be evidenced mostly through more rapid plant
growth and out of balance ripening profiles. For example, if a region currently
experiences a maturation period (version to harvest) that allows sugars to accumulate
to favourable levels, maintains acid structure, and produces the optimum flavor
profile for that variety, then balanced wines result. In a warmer than ideal
environment, the grapevine will go through its phonological events more rapidly
resulting in earlier and likely higher sugar ripeness, while the grower or winemaker is
waiting for flavors to develop, the acidity is lost through respiration resulting in
unbalanced wines without greater after-harvest inputs or adjustments in the winery.

Conclusion
Grape is one of the most important fruit crops of the world and it contains
many of the most valuable elements necessary for life. The crop has a wide
adaptability, and grapes can be grown under temperate, sub-tropical and tropical
climatic conditions and varied agro-ecological settings. The food, nutrition, medicinal
and economic values of the crop could be of significant importance for the population
of the Region. Therefore, the Consultation recommended that every effort should be
made to realize the full agricultural potential of the crop.
Remarkable success has been achieved in grape production and productivity
levels in certain countries of the Region (such as India and Australia), while in other
countries the progress is very limited. The opportunities for further development of
the grape industry appear to be very good. However, at the same time the problems to
be addressed are many and serious. There is, therefore, a need for the various
countries to consider taking appropriate action to address the existing problems to the
extent possible.

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Several production issues were highlighted as constraints to grape production

in the Region. These were understanding and managing vine nutrition in the tropics,
efficient irrigation management, manipulation of bud burst, optimizing crop load,
maximizing bud fruitfulness, managing flowering, fruit set and berry growth and
effective practices for grape production under protected (temporary and permanent)
systems. The need to determine the nutrient requirements of vines under tropical
conditions and petiole interpretation standards for the accurate monitoring of vine
nutrients status was identified as important for effective and efficient vine nutrition
management. This has implications for fruit quality, cost of production and
environmental preservation.

Consultant Reports
Consultant 1
Name :
Report :

Consultant 2
Name :

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Report :

Consultant 3
Name :
Report :

Appendixes

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References

http://www.grapegrowingguide.com/

http://www.almanac.com/plant/grapes

http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/x6897e/x6897e06.htm

http://smallfarms.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/publications/growing_tabl
e_grapes_ec1639_may_2011.pdf

http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/growing-grapes-and-makinghomemade-wine-zmaz03amzgoe.aspx?PageId=5#ArticleContent

http://extension.psu.edu/business/ag-alternatives/horticulture/fruits/winegrape-production
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http://cals.ncsu.edu/hort_sci/extension/wine_grape.php

http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/inpho/docs/Post_Harvest_Compend
ium_-_Grape.pdf

http://www.agmrc.org/commodities__products/fruits/grapes-profile/

http://www.sdstate.edu/ps/research/viticulture/grapeproduction.cfm

http://www.napavintners.com/downloads/napa_economic_impact_2012.pdf

http://westernfarmpress.com/sustainable-movement-growing-californias-winegrapes

http://www.academicwino.com/2013/03/environmenta-impact-bottle-of-winenova-scotia.html/

http://ngwi.org/economic-impact-study_226.html

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