TOPEKA – Kansas grape and wine producers tended almost 350 acres of vines and produced more than 100,000 gallons of wine in 2010, according to two new surveys released this week.
The surveys of the grape and wine industries are the first of their kind in Kansas. These surveys, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service’s (NASS) Kansas Field Office, will answer certain agricultural and economic questions about the burgeoning industries.
“This data will help us better understand how we can encourage growth in the grape and wine industries in Kansas,” Secretary of Agriculture Dale Rodman said. “Agriculture is our state’s largest industry and we are committed to spurring economic growth through building on both our traditional and specialty commodities.”
Among the surveys’ findings, there were 342.1 acres of grapes in Kansas in 2010, up from 299 acres in 2007.
Kansas grapes were valued at $401,150 in 2010. The value of production varied greatly by variety.
Chambourcin and Norton were the most commonly reported varieties of grapes grown in Kansas.
Kansas wineries hosted a total of 251,870 visitors in 2010. About 48 percent of those visitors were from Kansas, and about 24 percent came from the neighboring states of Colorado,
Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The rest came from other states and countries or from unknown locations.
Red wines account for about 53 percent of the wines produced in Kansas. White wines followed with 39 percent, while rosé or blush wines accounted for 8 percent.
The surveys were requested by members of the Kansas grape and wine industries in 2009. The number of acres of grapes grown in Kansas is relatively small compared to other states, but by all accounts, the number of acres is growing. Industry leaders intend to use the data collected for marketing, promotion and other efforts, as well as applying for grants that could support industry programs.
More than 140 grape producers and 30 wineries were sent surveys earlier this year. The response rate for both surveys was close to 90 percent.
The full survey findings are available from the USDA NASS Kansas office website.
The surveys were funded by a USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant awarded in 2009. The Kansas Department of Agriculture and Kansas Department of Commerce applied for the grant to pay for the survey.