The North Carolina wine industry has grown rapidly over the past decade and is expected to continue growing as the worldwide wine consumption and export of wines rises. Over this same period, rural families and economies in North Carolina have been adversely affected by the steep decline in tobacco production. Several reports indicate that wine grapes are a cash crop with returns comparable to tobacco and can substitute for the loss in tobacco. This qualitative study provides an overview of the structure of the vinifera wine grape industry in North Carolina and identifies the needs and challenges facing the viability of the industry.
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