Marketing Directly of Fruit Produce to Ohio's Vineyards

In the heart of the Midwest, Ohio's vineyards and fruit orchards are playing an increasingly significant role in the state's wine industry. This fact sheet, based on HYG-1433-09 by Dr. Maurus Brown and Dr. Julie Fox, provides valuable insights for fruit growers looking to market their crops to local wineries.

Maintaining good fruit quality during harvest and shipping is crucial for winemaking. Pest-ridden fruit can lead to inferior quality wine, so it's essential to ensure that the fruit is of the highest quality possible. The quality of the fruit can be measured in terms of sugar content (Brix).

Ohio wineries focus on grapes, but they also purchase other fruit crops such as blackberries, blueberries, cherries, elderberries, raspberries, and strawberries for wine production. As of January 2022, there are 373 wineries in Ohio, and more and more of them are purchasing locally grown fruits to add to their product line.

A well-laid-out marketing plan is essential for marketing fruit crops to wineries. This plan should demonstrate how high-quality fruit is produced and how a specific winery can profit from buying the fruit. Coordinating fruit harvest with a winemaker is important and involves specific needs for delivery of the fresh-picked fruit.

The Ohio fruit crops market is influenced by factors such as overall demand from Ohio wineries, demand for locally grown fruit, cost of producing fruit, machinery cost for producing fruit, and labor availability and cost. Natural events like abnormal weather, pollution, deer feeding, bird eating, pests, and soil compaction can negatively impact fruit production in Ohio.

Growers are encouraged to reach out to the direct marketing team at directmarketing.osu.edu for marketing information and assistance. Other resources for marketing fruit to wineries include the website foodmarketmaker.com and social media outlets such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

The Ohio Grape Industries Committee (OGIC) is the organization in Ohio that promotes the cultivation and marketing of fruit for winemaking. The potential profit in fruit production is determined by the overall sale of fruit and the price received per pound/ton. Some of Ohio's fruit wines have won prestigious awards at regional and national competitions.

Accurate production and pricing information for Ohio fruit crops may still be difficult to obtain due to their small scale. However, the demand for quality fruits is increasing as new wineries come into production. The demand for fresh fruit depends on the total number of wineries producing fruit wine.

The Grape Exchange (TGE) & The JOB Board, provided by OSU's viticulture program, is a useful resource for marketing fruit to wineries in Ohio. The total acres of fruit crops grown locally and statewide is not specified, but it's clear that the market for locally grown fruit in Ohio's winemaking industry is growing.

Direct marketing involves two-way communication between sellers and buyers and is strongly encouraged between Ohio growers and winemakers. Delivering quality fruits at a good profit margin is essential for fruit growers. Traditional methods such as a phone call or a face-to-face meeting are still effective for marketing fruit to wineries.

Future production projections of various fruit crops in Ohio are not available, but with the growing demand for locally grown fruit in Ohio's winemaking industry, it's an exciting time for fruit growers in the state.