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Farmer walking down row in vineyard checking grapes

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’re owned by 700 family farms, 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.

A picture of the Betts family together Play Video

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.

Close up of a bunch of grapes

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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An image of the Chess Family together Play Video

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.

Bunches of green grapes from the Chess Family Farm

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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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.

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.
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.

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.