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Idaho grape and wine industry cites economic gains, seeks viticulture researcher at U of I Parma
Summary
Industry representatives told the Senate agricultural committee the state’s grape and wine sector has grown in acreage, production and economic impact and urged funding for a viticulturist at the University of Idaho Parma Research and Extension Center and continued specialty-crop grant support.
Representatives of the Idaho Grape and Wine Commission told the Idaho Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee that the state’s grape and wine industry has expanded in acreage, production and economic impact but faces challenges from farmland loss, water supply and labor shortages.
Roger Batt, a representative of the Idaho Grape and Wine Commission, said the industry counted about 1,350 acres of vineyards across roughly 70 vineyard sites and reported nearly 2,800 tons of grapes harvested in 2023. Citing a 2022 economic study, Batt said the industry’s total economic impact was about $314.1 million in 2022, up from roughly $209.6 million in 2017.
Batt and other presenters described three American Viticultural Areas (AVAs) that help market Idaho wines — Snake River, Eagle Foothills and Lewis and Clark…
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