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Our Story

From our farms to your family.

Welch's is on a mission to deliver flavorful moments to families everywhere. And, like you, we care about where our food comes from. In fact, we are owned by about 700 family farmers. We are rooted in tradition and hard work since 1869.

Bunch of grapes on the vine

Our Flavor Starts in the Earth…

Welch’s goodness starts in the vineyards, orchards, and farms where our farmers nurture their land so it will continue to be fertile and produce for generations to come.

Our grapes are 100% grown in the USA and go from vine to press within 8 hours of picking. We use 90% of the grapes we harvest, pressing the skin and seeds to maximize health benefits. This means no artificial flavors, colors, or sweeteners in our 100% juice.

Real Fruit, Real Families, Real Flavor

Our family farmers harvest their fruit at peak quality and process it locally to give you the freshest flavor built on real, wholesome, farm-grown ingredients every time.

Betts Family Play Video
Betts Family Farmer
Red grapes on vine
Betts Family Farm
Welch's 100% Grape Juice - Concord Grape

Concord Grapes

Did You Know?

Concord grapes, first grown in Massachusetts nearly 170 years ago, are non-GMO and offer many health benefits.

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Westfield, New York

Betts Family Farm

The Betts family has been grape farmers for 5 generations. They have 175.9 acres of land full of Concord grapes in Westfield, New York.

Red grapes on vine

By planting the different cover crops, we’re hoping to build up the soil for a more sustainable, more regenerative product.

— Bob Betts

Featured In

100% Grape Juice Concord Grape

Betts Farm Grapes Featured In

100% Grape Juice Concord Grape

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Featured In

Natural Concord Grape Spread

Betts Farm Grapes Featured In

Natural Concord Grape Spread

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Chess Family Play Video
Chess Family Farmer
White grapes on vine
Chess Family Farm
Welch's White Grape Sparkling Juice

Niagara Grapes

Did You Know?

Niagara grapes are fresh, green, and naturally crisp offering many health benefits.

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Ripley, New York

Chess Family Farm

The Chess family has been grape farmers for 7 generations. They have 65.9 acres of land full of Niagara grapes in Ripley, New York.

White grapes on vine

Some of the vineyards are as old as 100 years.

— Mary Beth Chess

Featured In

100% Grape Juice White Grape

Chess Farm Grapes Featured In

100% Grape Juice White Grape

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Featured In

White Grape Sparkling

Chess Farm Grapes Featured In

White Grape Sparkling

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An orchard of apple trees, each bearing a bounty of ripe apples. The trees are set in neat rows.

Apples

Did You Know?

  • • Our whole and cut apples are non-GMO

    • Many are grown on family farms in North America

    • Harvest time is late August through late October / early November

Note: Apples come from our sourcing partners and are not part of our grower owner network.

Yakima, Washington

Hansen Fruit Company

Eric Hansen, President/CEO (3rd generation) and Kyler Hansen, Operations Manager (4th generation), are building on the legacy founded by Wilbert Hansen (Bill) in 1948. This family-run business dedicates 2,400 acres to conventional and organic certified apples and maintains high quality standards at the warehouse and orchards.

A close-up view of two fresh, red apples with dewdrops on their surface, highlighting their freshness and appeal.

Our vision is to be a financially successful, innovative, family-owned and run growing and packing operation that is viable and sustainable for future generations.

— THE HANSEN FAMILY

Featured In

100% Apple Juice

HANSEN FRUIT APPLES FEATURED IN

100% Apple Juice

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Featured In

100% Juice Orange Pineapple Apple

HANSEN FRUIT APPLES FEATURED IN

100% Juice Orange Pineapple Apple

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Featured In

Orange Pineapple Apple

HANSEN FRUIT APPLES FEATURED IN

Orange Pineapple Apple

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Featured In

100% Cider Sparkling

HANSEN FRUIT APPLES FEATURED IN

100% Cider Sparkling

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Rows of strawberry plants growing in the ground, with ripe, red strawberries ready for harvest.

Strawberries

Did You Know?

  • • Our whole and cut strawberries are non-GMO
    • Many are grown on family farms in North America
    • Harvest time is Spring through late Summer

Note: Strawberries come from our sourcing partners and are not part of our grower owner network.

Salinas, California

Blazer Wilkinson Gee

Blazer Wilkinson Gee, or BWG, was founded by three families. Still family-run today, BWG farms 700 acres of strawberries and uses crop rotation and precision input control to support the sustainability of their land and crops.

A close-up image of fresh, ripe strawberries with their green leaves still attached, showcasing their vibrant red color and natural texture.

As a family run business, we understand the importance of our role in supporting a healthy and vibrant community.

— THE BLAZER WILKINSON GEE FAMILIES

Featured In

Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread

BLAZER WILKINSON GEE STRAWBERRIES FEATURED IN

Natural Strawberry Fruit Spread

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Featured In

Strawberry

BLAZER WILKINSON GEE STRAWBERRIES FEATURED IN

Strawberry

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Where Our Farmers Grow Grapes

Where Our Farmers Grow Grapes

Every Welch’s product is made from Concord and Niagara grapes grown at family farms across the United States. Requiring the right mix of sunshine, rainfall, and cool nights, grapes can be picky about climate - so we grow in regions with the perfect conditions.

Niagara and Finger Lakes Region

Near Niagara Falls in New York, this region’s 42 growers harvest tons of Welch’s Concord and Niagara grapes every year on nearly 1,300 acres.

Lake Erie Region

Harvesting Welch’s Concord and Niagara grapes near the smallest of the Great Lakes, this region is home to 339 growers with over 17,000 Concord and Niagara acres.

Michigan Region

Nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, 157 growers grow Welch’s Concord and Niagara grapes harvested on over 7,000 acres.

Washington Region

Our Washington vineyards are home to 191 growers who grow Welch’s Concord and Niagara grapes harvested on over 10,000 acres, including 750 certified organic acres.  

Meet More of Our Families

Ned Totzke and family on their Welch's farm.

Name

Ned Totzke

Region

Baroda, MI

Information

The Totzke’s are not just farmers. They are part of a family of growers who not only own the Welch’s brand, but also are responsible for its quality and iconic reputation. Since 1958, they’ve fine-tuned the art of harvesting grapes, celebrating that it is what they were meant to do in life. Pride, love, passion – it’s why the Totzke’s keep crushing it. 

I enjoy being out in vineyards every day, walking down the fields seeing what we’ve transformed - start to finish.
Portrait of a Welch's co-op farmer smiling in a vineyard

Name

Jeanette Nichols

Region

Niagara County in New York

Information

Lewiston is right near Niagara Falls. So it’s natural that, in addition to Concord grapes, Nichols Farm grows Niagara grapes for Welch’s. These Niagara grapes go into Welch’s products like 100% White Grape Juice and Sparkling White Grape Juice Cocktail.


What makes it taste so great is the sun, the rain and the soil. And we put a lot of love in it here in Lewiston.
Tim Grow, Welch's Farmer, and his two granddaughters on their farm.

Name

Tim Grow

Region

Grandview, WA

Information

Tim’s a 3rd generation Welch’s farmer who understands that delivering quality makes you feel accomplished. For Tim, quality is the preservation of the land he farms and in the precision of when his Concord grapes are harvested. This quality makes Tim proud that he has an amazing legacy to leave to his kids.


Delivering quality makes you feel accomplished!
Tracy Beckman and his son giving a thumbs up while driving a tractor.

Name

Tracy Beckman

Region

Pennsylvania

Information

For over 50 years, the Beckman’s have done just that, harvesting quality grapes – with kids working alongside their parents. For them, the farm is where they live, create memories and show their family that a job can equal joy. Keep Crushing it, Beckmans!

Work starts at 3 in the morning…but even during the busiest times of harvest, we still find time to come together and enjoy our vineyard.
Todd Wheeler, Welch's Farmer, and his two children on their Concord Grape farm.

Name

Todd Wheeler

Region

Sunnyside, WA

Information

Todd’s a 2nd generation Welch’s farmer. His passions — caring for the nutrients in the ground, the strength of the vine, and his family. Todd’s love for what he does drives him every day, whether it be working alongside dozens of people on his farm or overcoming Mother Nature’s unexpected winter freeze to still deliver a delicious grape.

The sky is the limit with what Todd can do as a farmer — it’s built into his DNA.
Paul Killian, Welch's Farmer, and his wife and two children, all wearing Welch's tees.

Name

Paul Kilian

Region

Sunnyside, WA

Information

Paul is a 3rd generation Welch’s farmer. He feels working in agriculture is a dream, not just a job. It’s fueled his work ethic — “Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”  This has inspired his kids and grandkids to always “put in the work” to achieve their dreams too.

Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Welch's famous juice stand at Disneyland, purple hue

Fun Facts

Mickey’s Main Squeeze

In 1955, Welch’s appeared on The Mickey Mouse Club and opened the famous juice stand at Disneyland.

Welch’s Jelly Donuts packaging, circa 1970

Fun Facts

Filled with Joy

In the 1970s, Welch’s introduced Jelly Donuts, becoming a sensation for years.

Still form Welchkins commercial, 1981 debut

Fun Facts

The Welchkins

The animated, gnome-like Welchkins debuted as a commercial in 1981, winning the hearts of kids everywhere.

World record for grape stomping at the Lucille Ball Festival

Fun Facts

Grape Stomping Ball

Welch’s set a world record for grape stomping at the Lucille Ball Festival, as 1,232 people stomped 60 tons of grapes.

World record for the largest toast at Fenway Park, fans raise glasses of Welch's juice

Fun Facts

Largest Toast

Welch’s sets the world record for the largest toast, raising 32,906 cups of grape juice with sports fans at Fenway Park.

Our History

  1. Photo of harvesters working on a Massachusetts vineyard, 1849

    1849

    The First Concord Grape

    Ephraim Bull grows the first Concord grape on his farm in Massachusetts.

  2. Signage from 1854 stating, "Welch Grape Juice Factory, Westfield, N.Y. -- Visitors Welcome"

    1854

    Seeds for Sale

    Bull places his first harvest of Concord seedlings on the market.

  3. Portrait in black and white of Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch

    1869

    Dr. Welch's Discovery

    Dr. Thomas Bramwell Welch bottles his first batch of grape juice in his kitchen.

  4. Four workers in a Welch's Grape Juice factory, circa 1890

    1890

    Dr. Welch's Grape Juice

    The name changes from Dr. Welch’s Unfermented Wine to Dr. Welch’s Grape Juice.

  5. Two workers in a Welch's grape sorting plant, circa 1893

    1893

    World's Fair Debut

    Welch’s Grape Juice makes its debut at the World’s Fair in Chicago, becoming a household name.

  6. Close up of grapes on the vine, in black and white

    1897

    Processing Grapes

    Charles Welch processes 300 tons of grapes at Welch’s plant in Westfield, NY.

  7. Vintage signage for Welch's Grapelade: Pure Grape Jam, with painted bread and jam jars

    1918

    Introducing "Grapelade"

    Welch's develops its first jame "Grapelade," and the U.S. Army enjoys it with peanut butter. The famous PB&J is born!

  8. Auditorium filled with guests at the National Grape Cooperative Annual Meeting, circa 1945

    1945

    First Grape Council

    The National Grape Cooperative holds its First Annual Meeting.

  9. Original Welch's Frozen Grape Juice Concentrate flavors

    1949

    Frozen Concentrate

    A pioneer in frozen concentrate, Welch’s introduces Frozen Grape Juice Concentrate.

  10. National Grape Co-Operative Association Inc. & Welch Grape Juice Company logos on black background

    1956

    Purchased by the National Grape Co-op

    National Grape purchases Welch's Grape Juice Company.

  11. Factory worker running the assembly line for canned Welch's drinks

    1967

    A New Line of Products

    New products are introduced, from fruit spreads to fruit punch.

  12. Conveyor belt loaded with Welch's jellies squeezable containers

    1985

    Packaging Innovations

    A first for the industry, Welch’s jellies and preserves are sold in squeezable containers.

  13. Rows of a vineyard on an overcast day

    2005

    Expanding Crop

    The largest crop in company history is received, measuring over 414,000 tons.