New York Concord Grape Innovation Award

The New York Concord Grape Innovation Award is a competition focused on a traditional crop with more than 200 years of history in New York and stimulating the innovation needed for the development of new products and markets for this important commodity.

Innovation awards, totaling over $100,000 in cash prizes and packages of expert support, will be given to companies or organizations that develop innovative concord grape-based products that substantially increase demand and utilization of New York-grown concord grapes.

The competition is organized by the New York State Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture at Cornell AgriTech.

The Innovation Award is open to established New York businesses - food processors, producers, entrepreneurs – who have been in business for at least 1 year as per January 1, 2022. Individuals with new ideas may partner with an established business to participate in the competition.

The awards consist of Trophies, Cash Prizes, and Packages of Expert Support to be provided by Cornell University. The Package of Expert Support will include services, training and assistance provided by the Cornell Food Venture Center, the Institute for Food Safety at Cornell University and the Cornell Agriculture and Food Technology Park. The Cash Prizes will be used by the winners to help bring new products to market. The three winning products in each category will also be featured at Taste NY Welcome Centers and Markets.

Innovation Awards will be given in 2022, by category:

• Best New Concord Grape Beverage

• Best New Concord Grape Based Product

For each category, awards will be given to first, second and third places, according to the decision of a judging panel comprised of representatives of industry, government and academia. The awards will be allocated as follows:

• First Prize: $20,000 + Package of Expert Support valued at $8,000

• Second Prize: $10,000 + Package of Expert Support valued at $5,000

• Third Prize: $5,000 + Package of Expert Support valued at $3,500

Cornell’s Package of Expert Support Options

• Specialized trainings in food safety and technology

• Expert consultation – food processing, packaging, safety, marketing

• Pilot plant usage

• Product commercialization support

• Laboratory services

Package of Expert Support prizes cannot be converted into currency and must be redeemed as services provided exclusively by the programs listed by June 30 of 2023. If warranted, proper controls will be followed to protect patentable discoveries and trade secrets.

The award selection process consists of 3 phases:

Phase 1: Submission of a preliminary concept describing the proposed new product and the potential impact it will have on increasing the demand for Concord grapes/concentrate. 

The short proposal (1 page) must be submitted by Aug. 1 via the form on the competition webpage, hosted by the Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture.

Best preliminary concepts per category will be selected and announced on August 19, 2022.

Phase 2: Submission of a full proposal (max of 10 pages, same submission information as phase 1) containing specific information related to the new product: product description, intended use, list of ingredients including % of Concord grape/concentrate, process description with process flow diagram, market potential and proposed implementation plan, price/cost evaluation, and SWOT Business Analysis (Strength, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). Submission of a prototype is encouraged but not required. Dateline for submission is October 17, 2022.

Phase 3: Up to six finalists per category will be announced on November 15, 2022. Finalists will be invited to present their proposals in person at the event on December 9, 2022. Each finalist will have 5 min to present and demonstrate his/her product followed by 5 min of questions by the judges. Jury will be comprised of representatives of NYSDAM, Cornell Food Venture Center, grape industry, NY Wine and Grape Foundation, Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture and so forth. Winners will be selected at the end of the competition and trophies and prizes awarded.

• Award Information

• Application Portal