Partnership Among Colleges, Wine Industry and Government Creates Wealth

A unique partnership of education, industry and government is turning Pennsylvania wine into a 'fuel' for statewide economic development as representatives of Penn State Cooperative Extension, the Pennsylvania Wine Association and the Wine Marketing and Research Board of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture join forces to energize the state's growing winemaking industry.

Mark Chien, viticulture extension educator for Penn State Cooperative Extension, says Pennsylvania is uniquely poised to follow the lead of California's Napa Valley, Ontario's Niagara Peninsula, New York's Long Island and eastern Washington as areas that have gone from depressed rural communities to trendy agrotourism hotspots.

...In general, the old wives' tale is true: where tree fruit crops -- and especially peaches -- thrive, wine grapes grow very well.

Winery-related agrotourism can become an important part of rural economies. Government, educational and industry experts agree that the state's wine industry can have significant economic impact.

Pennsylvania now ranks fifth among states, producing about 700,000 gallons annually, and is the nation's fourth largest grape producer, with about 12,800 acres yielding more than 61,000 tons of grapes each year. According to a recent study, the wine industry directly contributes $50 million to the state's economy and generates another $140 million in tourism-related economic activity.

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