Although
the law mandates the use of Tennessee products in the commercial
wine-making process, waivers for the purchase of wine fruits
and wine juices from out of state are permitted when in-state
supplies are not available. In such cases, a waiver must be
approved by the state’s Alcohol Beverage Commission
(ABC) to allow acquisition from out-of-state sources. Although
no precise study has analyzed the amount of out-of-state product
obtained for commercial wine production, it is hypothesized
to be a significant amount.
An accurate
assessment of the volume, species and variety of raw product
inputs normally acquired from out-of-state sources by Tennessee
wineries may identify a production opportunity for existing
and potential Tennessee growers. Such an assessment would
identify and summarize patterns of requested waivers, quantify
the amount of out-of-state input purchases and establish a
rationale for possible production opportunities in Tennessee.
The project results presented here utilize information from
previously approved waivers for purchase of wine fruits from
out-of-state.
This
report analyzes the requests from Tennessee wineries to purchase
wine-fruit products from out-of-state sources in 2001 and
2002. An assessment of the amount of fruit purchased from
out-of-state is given and an assessment of production possibilities
for the purchased out-of-state is made. Lacking multiple years
of data and recognizing that variations exist in the information
contained in the waivers for the years available, this report
does not indicate actual or predicted market demands. Rather
it provides a summary of the information provided in two years
of waivers and indicates some possible production and value
implications.
As with
all activities in the Center for Profitable Agriculture, the
goal of this Market Development for Specialty Crops project
is to assist in the evaluation, analysis and development of
opportunities for Tennessee’s value-added agriculture
industry.
Appreciation
is extended to David Lockwood for his contributions and cooperation
in the analysis of this project and to Charlie Hall and David
Lockwood for their assistance in the peer review. Appreciation
is also expressed to Mary Jo Holden and Gary Dagnan for their
assistance and cooperation in the editing and layout and to
Joe Gaines, Stanley Trout and Paul Nordstrom with the Tennessee
Department of Agriculture for their assistance with the development
and implementation of this specialty crop project.
Identification
of Need or Opportunity
Statement of Goals
Executive Summary
