Pee Dee Tobacco Farmers Get Grape Pitch

Source from:  By ANDY COLE Morning News 03/29/2005

Tobacco farmers in the Pee Dee will have the chance Tuesday to find out more about a burgeoning new industry in South Carolina that could add to their bottom lines. Grapes, or, more specifically, muscadine grapes, are needed for a growing wine industry, and a Little River vintner wants to get those grapes from the Pee Dee. "There aren't many muscadine grapes grown in South Carolina, and there's a tremendous potential for muscadine crops here," said Chuck Bell of La Belle Amie Vineyard. Bell will speak to local farmers Tuesday night about grapes as an alternative crop, particularly for tobacco growers looking to diversify their business. "With this meeting, we're simply trying to find out if there's any interest," he said. Bell will explain the needs of wineries, but he'll also talk about how the wine industry is intrinsically tied to South Carolina's tourism industry. "There's probably no better agribusiness than wineries that fit with tourism," he said. "And tourism is the No. 1 industry in South Carolina, so it's a natural fit." While the Palmetto State's few wineries have produced high-quality wine, the industry has been slower to grow here than it has in North Carolina. But Bell said it's not because grapes won't grow here. "If they're growing tobacco, their land is going to be good for growing grapevines," he said. The idea to hold a meeting with farmers to find out about their interest started with Barry Tomlinson, a loan officer at Pee Dee Farm Credit. Tomlinson, who grew up in the agriculture industry, saw a potential alternative crop, particularly for tobacco farmers looking to find other markets. "I'm interested in helping our farmers find profitable crops," he said. "And this is potentially very profitable for them." Tomlinson said the North Carolina wine industry is a good example. "I'd like to see us duplicate what is happening in eastern North Carolina," he said. What's happening there is explosive growth in wineries and grape growing, Bell said. "You have four wineries in South Carolina right now. Ten years ago, there were four wineries," Tomlinson said. "North Carolina is adding 10 wineries a year." Tomlinson said there are other advantages to growing grapes than just a ready-made market among wineries. He said science is showing promise in the health industry for grape byproducts. "There is an emerging industry, taking the byproducts of muscadines and using them in the nutriceutical industry," he said. "Now, that's in its infancy, but there's something that will be there for grape growers in years to come." One thing Tomlinson and Bell point out is that if a farmer decided to start growing grapes, they need to know that there is an initial capital outlay that won't likely be recovered for a couple of years. That's because it takes about three years for grape vines to become mature enough to produce a substantial harvest. Bell said the market is there for any grapes produced locally, and he'd rather get grapes from South Carolina than from other states. He said he's encouraged by the interest farmers have shown in attending Tuesday's meeting. About 25 local growers have committed to be there. Clemson Extension officials will be on hand to gauge interest and offer help. The university doesn't have a program to promote muscadine farming, but Bell said he's talked to the school about the possibility of assigning a full-time extension agent devoted to the grape industry to the Pee Dee Research Center. Meanwhile, he'll find out how many local farmers are interested in diversifying their crops to include grapes. "If there's an interest, we'll take it from there," Bell said. Ednitem