Erie - a "grape" place to live

Erie and Erie County are well-known for their cool climate (and lots of lake effect snow).

It's Lake Erie, of course, that causes the climate to be on the cool side, and although many people don't care for the lake-influenced weather, it's an absolute boon to one group of people--Concord grape farmers. Here's why:

In Erie's climate, Concord grapes ripen in late summer/early fall. A frost while the grapes are ripening would be disastrous, killing many of the precious bunches just before harvest. But the summer-warmed waters of Lake Erie usually prevent an early frost from occurring, thus giving the grapes the time they need to fully ripen to a sweet, healthy product.

Concord grapes are made into many products, most notably grape juice and jelly. But they're also excellent, and very good for you, when eaten right off the vine. Indeed, there are many farmers in the area who will sell you fresh-picked Concord grapes, and they taste fantastic when eaten shortly after being picked.

Concord grape farming also creates many jobs in the greater Erie area. My first job, when I was just 15, was combing Concord grapes.

What does it mean to comb grapes? As you probably know, as grape vines grow they become tangled and intertwined. Combing means to walk along the rows of grapes untangling the vines so they hang straight down. This allows more sunlight into the vines, thus improving productivity.

Although a fair amount of Concord grape farming takes place in Erie County, Pennsylvania, many farmers also live and work just over the state line in New York State. All together the Concord grape belt is 50 to 60 miles long and 2 to 8 miles wide along the southern shore of Lake Erie. It is the largest grape growing region in the United States outside of California.