USDA Purchases $20 Million of Surplus Concord Grape Juice to Aid Western New York and Pennsylvania Growers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a $20 million purchase of surplus Concord grape juice under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act. The juice will be directed to federal nutrition programs, including school lunches, providing immediate market relief for growers in the Lake Erie Grape Belt of western New York and northern Pennsylvania.

USDA Agrees To Purchase $20 Million In Surplus Concord Grape Juice From WNY, PA Farmers Times ObserverWKBW - Buffalo News

In early 2026, Refresco Beverages cancelled purchase contracts with roughly 126 grape growers covering about 2,600 acres of Concord vineyards across western New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Senate Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, together with Representative Nick Langworthy, urged USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to invoke Section 32 authority—a “bonus buy” mechanism previously used in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014, 2017, and 2024—to purchase the surplus juice and stabilize the market.

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• Growers affected: ~126 (Cornell Cooperative Extension)

Times Observer

• Acreage: ~2,600 acres of Concord grapes

Times Observer

• Regional production: ~800 growers produce >=150,000 tons of grapes each year on >22,000 acres across the Lake Erie Plain

USDA Agrees To Purchase $20 Million In Surplus Concord Grape Juice From WNY, PA Farmers

• Economic impact: Supports about 2,000 jobs and generates >$300 million annually (Cornell)

USDA Agrees To Purchase $20 Million In Surplus Concord Grape Juice From WNY, PA Farmers

• Purchase amount: $20 million of surplus juice (USDA)

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Representative Langworthy called the buy “important” for market stability, noting it reduces excess inventory and provides “much-needed stability and relief” to growers. USDA officials said Section 32 purchases support both producers and nutrition assistance programs, citing past “bonus buys” that have helped stabilize markets during sudden disruptions.

USDA Pork Purchase to Support Schools, Food banks, and Nutrition Programs

• “Everyone knows the best Concord grapes come from Upstate New York. But when Refresco canceled contracts with many grape farmers earlier this year, growers were left in a lurch with nowhere to sell their harvests. That's why, last week, I stood shoulder to shoulder with Western New York grape farmers in Chautauqua County and urged the USDA to buy extra Concord grape juice for nutrition programs,” — Senator Chuck Schumer

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• “Keeping our Concord grape industry strong and thriving is a top priority, and I am extremely pleased to see USDA take this important step to support our growers,” — Congressman Nick Langworthy

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The USDA acquisition injects demand for the surplus juice, helping growers avoid large unsold inventories that could depress prices for the upcoming harvest. By channeling the product into school lunch and other nutrition programs, the purchase expands the supply of domestically produced fruit juice to vulnerable populations. The $20 million infusion aligns with the broader Section 32 initiative, which this year also includes purchases of canned peaches, fresh mandarins, prunes, raisins, walnuts, and wild-caught shrimp, further supporting a range of U.S. farmers.

USDA Pork Purchase to Support Schools, Food banks, and Nutrition Programs

The USDA will release solicitations for Section 32 purchases through its Web-Based Supply Chain Management system, allowing qualified vendors to submit bids. Ongoing monitoring of grape market conditions will determine whether additional bonus buys are needed to sustain the Lake Erie Grape Belt’s economic contribution in future seasons.

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