First Batch of Certified Organic Grapes Grown in Calverton

Calverton farmer Rex Farr told the News-Review this week that he plans to pick up to 12 tons of various organic grapes next week — the first certified batch on Long Island.

Farr said he planted the merlot, cabernet franc, malbec and petite verdot grapes in 2005 on his Youngs Avenue farm, which has been certified by the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York since 1990.

Read the full article in the News-Review here.

Lacking a wine production facility himself, Farr said he is hoping to partner with a local winery to make bottles of the organic wine.

Mattituck vintner David Page of said that he too entered the National Organic Program in 2010 and harvested organically grown fruit that year.

"It takes three consecutive years of organic production before certification," he said.