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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has awarded North Dakota’s first research grants to support and promote the state’s grape and wine industry.

Goehring says “The 2013 Legislature appropriated $80,000 for the North Dakota Department of Agriculture to fund industry research and promotion,” He added, “North Dakota’s grape and wine industry has seen significant growth in recent years, and the research funded by these grants will help keep that industry growing.”

Grant recipients included: Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, North Dakota State University, received $66,500.00 for a germplasm evaluation of cold hardy wine grape cultivars.   

And Lindsay and Mike Ostlie, Carrington, received $2,000 for trials of high tunnel fruit production.

Grant proposals were evaluated by the North Dakota Grape and Wine Advisory Committee, which forwarded its recommendations to Goehring.

Committee members include Rodney Hogen, Red Trail Vineyard, Buffalo; Ken Duppong, Haymarsh Vineyard, Glen Ullin; Mark Vining, Agassiz Shores Orchard and Vineyard, Wheatland; Rick Ennen, Apple Creek Winery, Menoken, Allan Fuller, Vintners Cellar, Bismarck, and Paul Anderson, Rutland.