By Clint Thompson
One South Georgia muscadine producer continues to educate consumers about the grape, especially its many health benefits.
Gary Paulk, CEO of Paulk Vineyards in Wray, Georgia, attended last months’ IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Atlanta. Like other businesses in attendance, Paulk used the two-day event to market his crop and inform consumers about the sweet-tasting muscadine grape.
“It’s the place to be to see everybody,” Paulk said. “I think one of the biggest selling points in the future is the health aspect. With the juices, it’s going to be a real healthy fruit. Everybody wants healthy.
“It’s a very healthy grape.”
According to the University of Georgia, muscadines have high levels of antioxidants.
What it doesn’t have, however, is a long shelf life. Paulk estimated that muscadines are good for about three weeks after they have been plucked from the vine. But that is normally not a problem for the consumer who purchases the muscadines at a store or roadside stand.
“You don’t need to hang on it very long, but of course as good as it is, you’re going to eat it in a hurry anyway,” Paulk said.
Crop Uses
Paulk estimates about 80% of his crop is sold for fresh market. The other 20% is divvied up between wine production on the farm and wine production for other wineries. Hurricane Helene interrupted this year’s harvests, though Paulk estimated only a 5% impact.
“We had a great year, new customers, same customers; our yields were great. We didn’t have many major problems with labor. Weather, except right to the end, was ideal,” Paulk said.
A key for Paulk may lie in expanding his export market, specifically with the U.S.’s neighbor to the north.
“We haven’t exported much. We have other people we’ve sold to that export. Canada seems to be, because it’s easier to get to, it seems to be a place we want to go and expand. We want to expand that market,” Paulk said. “I’ve always said something as fragile as a blackberry can be grown in South America, got up here and still looks good, I think we can do with it a muscadine.”