Marrison, D. L., The Ohio State University, Ashtabula County Extension
Brown, M.V., The Ohio State University, OSU South Centers

ABSTRACT

Ashtabula County is Ohio’s top grape production area raising 68% of the state’s 2,000 acres of grape. This survey was developed in response to two community needs. The Northeast Ohio Grape Committee determined there was a need for a more skilled vineyard workforce. At the same time, the Horticulture Department of the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School was conducting a program review, and determined that more viticulture classes should be offered in their secondary horticulture program. Both groups requested that OSU Extension develop a survey to determine what the desired labor and management needs were for the Ohio grape industry. A survey instrument was developed in the spring of 2005 utilizing input from the Ohio grape industry. In collaboration with Dr. Bruce Bordelon from Purdue University, Indiana grape growers helped to test pilot the survey in the summer of 2005. Recommendations for improving the survey were considered and changes were made accordingly. This project was reviewed by the Institutional Review Board at The Ohio State University and the human subjects were deemed exempt from providing signed release agreements.
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