Chapters 8.41
8.41-Value addition of grapes
Halle de Valk-Zaiss, University of Guelph, Canada
Suggested citation for this chapter.
Valk-Zaiss De,H. (2022) Value addition of grapes,In Farmpedia, The Encyclopedia for Small Scale Farmers. Editor, M.N. Raizada, University of Guelph, Canada. http://www.farmpedia.org
Introduction
Grapes are one of world’s most commonly produced fruit crops, and can be made into products with a very high value, which make them such an important commodity for smallholder farmers (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016). There are many ways in which smallholder famers can add value to grapes. Unfortunately, grapes are actually “One of the fruits with the highest input of technology (cooling, sulfuration, packing, cold storage)…[and] for this reason [are] the fruit crop with the highest total value of production in the world” (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016, p. 14). This makes the entire production process for poorer famers more difficult however, because of the intensive labour costs and effort associated with these fruits. Grapes are usually sold for about US$ 2.00-3.00, which is a good amount of money, but it could be much higher if post-harvest value is added to grapes resulting in goods such as grape chutney, wine, and raisins.
Grape Chutney
The process of turning grapes into a grape chutney is something that is easily done, and is especially popular in places such as India where chutney has an enormous global market. The production of grapes (leading to chutney) “Helps the socio-economic growth of Indian farmers by exporting [grapes] to European and Arabian countries” (Kadbhane & Manekar, 2017, p. 88). A container of labeled chutney on Alibaba (a global trade site) can be purchased for US$ 16.00-17.00 which is considerably higher than table grapes.
Step by Step Instructions
Making a grape chutney is much simpler than making something like wine because all one needs to do with the harvested grapes is rinse them, pick them off the vine, and cook them into a chutney. The simple steps to make a grape chutney are: heat up any type of oil and add shallots, ginger, garlic and cook until soft then add vinegar, molasses, grapes, salt and sugar. Bring to a boil and cook until it is thick/syrupy, making sure to bring to a room temperature and store in refrigerator or in cool area after it has been canned/jarred it so it does not go bad.
Packaging and Adding Value
To sell this successfully, packaging the chutney is important. There are many cheap jam preserving jars on the market that will keep chutney well preserved for a long time. It is fairly inexpensive to purchase these jars/lids and in the long term will be worth the extra value added to the grape chutney sales. Adding a label, even handmade, could also add additional value to the grape chutney. To get these jars is very cheap, as a pack of 1000 jars costs between US$ 0.20 and 0.40 per unit. And for labels it costs between US$ 0.01 and 0.05 for a pack of 100 which would ultimately add to the value of this chutney quite substantially.
Target Markets
Farmers making chutney could simply sell it on a roadside stand for local consumers, to farmer’s markets or to local restaurants or hotels, which would be more stable than fresh grapes. Fresh produce contributes to vast amounts of food waste in not only India, but the world. In fact, “Among food items, fruits and vegetables have short shelf-lives and form 70% of the wasted food, amounting to 40% of the financial loss” for agricultural produce in India (Gardas, Raut, & Narkhede, 2018, p. 48). Canning/bottling food enables a way in which we can preserve food and make it so hours of labour are not wasted.
Wine
The process of making wine can sometimes be seen as quite difficult, but it results in a very high monetary reward for smallholder famers. If one examines a lower income country that is known for producing large amounts of grapes, like South Africa, wine makes up “The highest growth rate [for their] agriculture and generates a significant quantity of foreign exchange” (Townsend, Kirsten, & Vink, 1998, p. 176). In fact, 55% of grapes that are produced around the world are used to make wine (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016). Wine is a very high value product, and can retail from US $8.00-122.00 per bottle on sites like Alibaba.
Supplies Needed and Step by Step Instructions
All one needs to start are the harvested grapes, placed into a bucket to crush grapes with one’s feet (ItalianMasterclass, 2013). Collect the crushed grapes and put them into a concrete tank/barrel/container to ferment for about 8 days at a temperature of around 18-22 degrees Celsius. During this time, make sure several times a day that someone is punching down the grape skins to check that they have mixed with everything . After the 8 days, verify that all of the crushed grape skins have risen and the sugar levels are tested. The wine is then siphoned by putting something similar to a big straw (a siphon) into the barrel and sucking up the wine until it is halfway up the tube and quickly dropping the tube into another bucket; the wine should be flowing into the second bucket. The wine is put into a sealed off container to sit and age for as long as needed (at least about 6 months) and air sealed (ItalianMasterclass, 2013).
Packaging and Adding Value
Wine bottles and corks are very cheap and easy to find online, usually in cases of twelve or so. Labelling the wine is a simple added value by simply printing off stickers and attaching to the bottles. Such marketing adds further value by highlighting local farmers. In fact, a set of 2000 bottles would only cost between U.S. $0.20 and 0.40 and a set of 1000 corks for around US$ 0.20. The syphon and hydrometer are both approximately US$1.00-3.00 which are a bit more expensive but highly recommended for the process of making wine.
Target Markets
Since wine is desired in such a high commodity, well-made wine can be sold almost anywhere. According to a UN Report, “Demand now exceeds production, prices are increasing and experts are predicting that in five years the world will experience a shortage of wine” (Grapes Wine, 2009). Selling wine in local markets would provide smallholder farmers with a way to get their product noticed because “Globally more than 80% of smallholders operate in local and domestic food markets. These highly diverse markets, in which most of the food consumed in the world transits, can range from local to transboundary to regional” (Connecting Smallholder Farmers to Markets, 2016). Getting the product out on the market will help spread the product and lead to more business.
Raisins
Drying fruit, like raisins, is a great way to make a profit when fruits are beginning to ripen. In fact, in places like Sub Saharan Africa, almost “One-third of produced fruits and vegetables [are] lost before reaching the plate” (James & Zikankuba, 2017, p. 1). In order to help solve this issue, smallholder farmers can dry their own fruit. Drying grapes is actually the third biggest use of grapes, following wine and regular table grapes (Khazaei, Hashjin, Ghassemian, Khoshtaghaza, & Banakar, 2013, p. 1095). A kilogram of packaged raisins can be sold between the prices of US$ 2.00-10.00
Labour Needs
Countries that are in a Mediterranean climate are best suited for drying grapes, and these inevitably where it is most common to do so. Turkey is actually “One of the leading producers of raisins in the world with 328,000 tonnes” (Akev, Koyuncu, & Erbaş, 2018, p. 107). Instead of investing in expensive machinery to dry grapes, there are several different methods one can choose to do when making dried grapes. Grapes can be dried on the floor, where harvested grape bunches are laid out on a paper tray or sheet to be dried naturally in the sun (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016, p. 28). This process takes around six weeks, and the grapes can be hand-picked after they have been dried out. Another way grapes can be dried out is by being laid out on a tray in the shade, while having hot and dry air ventilating them. Dry, windy days are better for this process, at an average temperature of 30 degrees Celsius (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016, p. 28).
Packaging and Adding Value
For best long-term storage, the use of carton boxes is a good, cost-effective choice, as long as the raisins are kept in a controlled atmosphere/in semi-refrigeration (Akev, Koyuncu, & Erbas, 2018, p. 109). Selling locally to restaurants, markets or hotels might be the most realistic option, or contracting with larger export organizations.
Critical Analysis
While the production of wine is high value, it can be a difficult good to produce. Some wineries/farms add sulfide dioxide to their wine because it acts as an antiseptic and antioxidant but every farmer does it their own way (Grapes Wine, 2009). The temperature, pH levels, sugar and alcohol levels need to be specific when making wine, which will be listed below. The syphoning can also be a quite difficult process to learn, and the overall production of wine can be expensive, especially because of how long it takes to age.
With drying grapes, the main challenge is constantly checking them to make sure no mould has grown during the drying process. This can lead to high levels of mycotoxins, produced by fungi (Table and Dried Grapes, 2016, p. 28). It is also important to make sure raisins are kept in a cooled area.
How to Get Started: Useful Links
Value of Regular Table Grapes: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Wholesale-Fresh-Grapes-Fresh-Green-Grapes_50040992017.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.86.ed2c397dyvP1OF
How to Clean/Process Wild Grapes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5qVpEwLLjg
Recipe for Simple, Grape Chutney: https://www.foodnetwork.ca/recipe/grape-chutney/4836/
Jars for Chutney: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Square-food-grade-50ml-100ml-180ml_60793090235.html?spm=a2700.galleryofferlist.normalList.146.a3e8446eZihGhY
Label’s for Chutney: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Customized-size-waterproof-blank-name-roll_60672624601.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.13.44d665969pjAGS
Value of Chutney: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/All-Types-Of-Organic-Sultana-China_50045275399.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.100.1c7511adgzDjnJ
How to Make Red Wine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hh3T65pA2Tw
Shows the Criteria of a Finished Wine (page 10): http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/al176e/al176e.pdf
Wine Bottle Cork https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Natural-Wine-Cork-Closure-for-wine_169278065.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.2.5a512310F1m1bB&s=p
Value in Wine: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/sweet-red-wine-price-in-India_60728898715.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017005.9.1c7511adgzDjnJ
Value of Raisins: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/All-Types-Of-Organic-Sultana-China_50045275399.html?spm=a2700.7724838.2017115.100.1c7511adgzDjnJ
Value Addition in Grapes: http://www.krishisewa.com/articles/pht/84-grape-valueaddition.html
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