Viticulture is an important activity for small farmers of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. This study aimed to characterize the social and technical aspects used in table grapes production in Jales region (SP). The data were collected in 2009 and 2010 from questionnaires answered by 19 grape growers and by monitoring the production cycle of 10 properties. The farmers cultivate at least three different grape cultivars and the main ones are 'Niagara Rosada', 'Italia' and 'Benitaka'. The properties size averages around 21 ha and the average grapevine area is 2.4 ha. Most producers do not have regular technical assistance; neither follows recommendations for fertilizer application nor employs technical criteria for irrigation management. The disease control is carried out preventively and intensively, surpassing 100 applications per cycle, in the case of fine table grapes. The results should support other researches, as well planning programs and technology transfer, providing the producer a more appropriate culture management, as well as regional rural sustainable development.
viticulture; grapevine; plant disease; irrigation
