Erie County Executive Christina Vogel is applauding a new state investment aimed at supporting local grape growers after unexpected contract cancellations threatened this year’s harvest.
Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture announced a $500,000 investment through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) to purchase and process grapes from Erie County growers impacted by the loss of key contracts earlier this year. The emergency funding will help ensure that hundreds of tons of locally grown grapes reach consumers rather than going to waste.
The funding will support the purchase of approximately 350 tons of Concord grapes from 11 Erie County growers, providing a market for this season’s crop while producing nutritious grape juice for food banks throughout Pennsylvania.
“This is welcome news for Erie County’s grape growers,” Vogel said. “When growers lost contracts just months before harvest, many families were left wondering what would happen to the crop they had worked all year to produce. This investment provides much needed relief and recognizes the importance of agriculture to our local economy.”
The county executive credited Governor Shapiro and Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding for responding to concerns raised by local growers and agricultural leaders. She also recognized the support of U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, State Rep. Pat Harkins, and Erie County Council Member Chris Drexel for helping advance efforts to secure assistance for the industry.
“I appreciate Governor Shapiro’s leadership and his administration’s willingness to work with our growers to find a solution,” Vogel said. “I also want to recognize Greg Hall, Second Harvest Food Bank, our grape growers, and everyone who came together to advocate for Erie County agriculture. Their collaboration helped make this possible.”
Through PASS, the grapes will be processed into 100% juice concentrate and distributed through Feeding Pennsylvania’s network of food banks. The initiative is designed to support local agriculture while also helping families facing food insecurity across the state.
Vogel emphasized that the announcement reflects the resilience of Erie County’s farming community and the importance of continued collaboration between local and state leaders to protect the industry’s future.
“Erie County’s grape industry is part of who we are,” Vogel said. “Our growers are resilient, and Erie County will continue working alongside our state partners to ensure this vital industry has a strong future.”