California Ag Network

Category: Grape Industry

  • California Ups the Ante on Sustainable Vineyard & Wine Production

    SAN FRANCISCO — The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) released its third annual CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE Report, highlighting the growing number of California wineries and vineyards that are Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE). California remains the global leader in sustainable winegrowing practices, with one of the most widely adopted sustainable winegrowing programs in the world in terms of both winegrape acreage and case production.

    As of December 2019, 149 wineries producing over 85% of California’s total wine production (255 million cases) and 2,097 vineyards farming 29% of statewide wine acreage (184,818 acres) are CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE.

    Another 15% of California vineyard acreage is certified to other state sustainability programs, including Fish Friendly Farming, Lodi Rules, Napa Green and Sustainability in Practice (SIP) which all play an important role in the California wine community’s efforts to produce high quality wine that is environmentally sound, socially equitable and economically feasible.

    “The California wine community has shown that sustainable practices and certification can be scaled up and is applicable to vineyards and wineries of all sizes throughout the state. As the fourth largest wine producer in the world, this means significant benefits for the land, natural resources and communities—both now and for future generations,” said Allison Jordan, Executive Director of CSWA.

    In 2019, CSWA’s third-party certification program had a 50% increase in the number of certified vineyards and a 4.2% increase in the number of certified wineries which already represents 85% of statewide production. View a list of current CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE vineyards, wineries and wines HERE.

    CSWA launched CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE in 2010, creating a certification option for California growers and vintners that provides independent third-party verification of practices and other requirements. The certification program, developed and updated with extensive industry and stakeholder input, validates that stringent vineyard and winery requirements such as soil health, water and energy conservation, habitat preservation, natural pest control and other key sustainability areas are addressed.

    The program was updated in 2017 to allow use of a new logo on labels for wine made in CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE wineries with 85% or more of grapes from certified vineyards (including CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE, Lodi Rules and SIP) and 100% from California. Wines from the 2017 vintage are the first to display the logo, and 972,174 cases of wine from the 2017, 2018 and 2019 vintages are available or coming soon to the marketplace (a 55% increase since the 2018 CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE Report).

    View the CERTIFIED SUSTAINABLE Annual Report HERE. Find the companion appendix, which includes more comprehensive reporting of the adoption of sustainable practices by certified vineyards and wineries, HERE.

    To read more about sustainable winegrowing requirements for certification, visit the CSWA Certification page.

  • A Brand New Sun-Maid: Investing in the Future

    The dried fruit sector hasn’t been as popular with millennial consumers as in other generations, but Sun-Maid Growers are working to turn things around (at least for California raisins) with some new strategies and investments as shared at their annual meeting in Fresno recently.  Watch this brief interview with Sun-Maid CEO Harry Overly and read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

     

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and tell them you saw them on California Ag Network.

  • CDFA Releases CA 2019 Preliminary Grape Crush Report

    The 2019 crush totaled 4,085,772 tons, down 9.3 percent from the 2018 crush of 4,506,010 tons.  Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,135,112 tons, down 12.8 percent from 2018.  The 2019 white wine variety crush totaled 1,755,141 tons, down 4.3 percent from 2018.  Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 61,051, down 26.0 percent from 2018, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 134,468 down 5.6 percent from 2018. 
     
    The 2019 average price of all varieties was $790.43, down 5.0 percent from 2018. Average prices for the 2019 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $990.07, down 2.9 percent from 2018; white wine grapes, $580.66, down 8.6 percent from 2018; table grapes, $262.60, up 36.8 percent; and raisin grapes, $244.88, down 19.0 percent.
     
    In 2019, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total crush volume with 15.6 percent.  Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second leading percentage of crush with 14.1 percent.  Thompson Seedless, the leading raisin grape variety crushed for 2019, held only 1.1 percent of the total crush.
     
    District 13, (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush, at 1,307,233 tons.  The average price per ton in District 13 was $300.60.
     
    Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $5,797.07 per ton, up 3.9 percent from 2018.  District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,823.67, up 0.2 percent from 2018.  The 2019 Chardonnay price of $899.83 was down 7.3 percent from 2018, and the Cabernet Sauvignon price of $1,720.61 was up 2.2 percent from 2018.  The 2019 average price for Zinfandel was $564.74, down 5.8 percent from 2018, while the French Colombard average price was down 5.0 percent from 2018 at $275.89 per ton.

    See the tables below for more information and read the full report HERE.

  • Dairy Girl Network to Host Two Events in CA Early 2020

    The Dairy Girl Network (DGN), an organization supporting all women in dairy by enhancing lives and creating opportunities, announces two events taking place in California in January and February 2020.

    DGN will be hosting a new event in California during the California Holstein Association’s state convention. The DGN Sharing Wisdom and Connect event will be held at The Penny in San Luis Obispo, California, on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event will be open to dairywomen involved in all aspects of the dairy industry attending the Holstein meeting or just from California for a day of education and networking. Buses will leave the Embassy Suites at 8:45 a.m. and will handle transportation to and from the event. If traveling in for the day or want to drive separate, parking is available at The Penny.
     
    The DGN event will be held in beautiful downtown SLO at The Penny and include training seminars, lunch and wine tasting. The speakers will include Celeste Setrinni, a cattle rancher and owner of a design and communications business and Erin Nutcher, partner in Hidden Valley Dairy, who will share about her agriculture advocacy experiences and tips. Also speaking will be Paul Swearingen, Core-Leaders Network Founder who will cover conflict resolution and lead an activation and communication exercise. Welcoming the group and enjoying in the day will be Carrie Mess, a DGN Board Member and blogger at DairyCarrie.
     
    Event ticket price is $50.00 and includes transportation, lunch, wine tasting and a DGN special gift. All registrations are due January 8th. There is a student discount available. Visit DairyGirlNetwork.com for registration and further details.
     
    The second event in California will be held at World Ag Expo, Tulare, California, International Agri-Center. The Connect Event during World Ag Expo will be a coffee break open house which will be available at booth DS 105/106 on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. A short program will be held at 10:30 a.m. Join other dairywomen for a quick recharge to talk about your lives involving dairy farming. The event is for all women involved with any part of dairy – whether as a calf feeder, dairy owner, marketing or sales consultant servicing dairy farms or cheese producers, veterinarian, researchers, etc. If there is a dairy cow involved in what you do, you’re invited. The DGN Connect event price for World Ag Expo is $10.00. Attendees will enjoy coffee, snacks and receive a special DGN gift.
     
    For the second consecutive year at World Ag Expo, a Family Lounge will also be provided by Dairy Girl Network at booth DS 105/106. The Family Lounge provides a much-needed quiet space for families and new mothers. Amenities in the Lounge include a comfortable chair for  nursing/pumping, a diaper changing station with supplies, and a place to rest and recharge. This quiet space is perfect for families or nursing mothers to escape the hustle-and-bustle of World Ag Expo.
     
    Registration for both events are now open. Those interested can visit DairyGirlNetwork.com to learn more and to register. DGN asks that those who plan to attend pre-register for each event.

    The Dairy Girl Network connects all women of the dairy industry, encouraging ideas and camaraderie in an effort to achieve personal and professional development. Designed as a welcoming network of passionate women involved in dairy, relationships will grow through shared experience, support and inspiration. 

  • First California Farm Awarded Top Animal Welfare, Grassfed & Non-GMO Certifications

    The flock of sheep at Tablas Creek Vineyard are now Certified Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World (AGW), Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW, demonstrating transparency and sustainability. Tablas Creek Vineyard is the first farming business in California to achieve all three certifications for their sheep.

     

    One of a portfolio of leading farm certifications offered by A Greener World, the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW label lets consumers know animals are raised outdoors on pasture or range in accordance with the highest animal welfare standards in the U.S. and Canada, using sustainable agriculture methods on an independent farm. Consumer Reports acknowledges Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW as the only “highly meaningful” label for farm animal welfare, outdoor access and sustainability.

     

    Tablas Creek Vineyard’s flock of sheep are also Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW. Certified Grassfed by AGW is an optional, additional accreditation for Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW farmers and ranchers raising cattle, sheep, goats or bison according to AGW standards and a 100 percent grassfed feeding protocol. Certified Non-GMO by AGW is the only certification and logo in the U.S. and Canada that guarantees a food product is produced without the use of genetically modified feed, supplements or ingredients, and comes from animals managed according to the Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW leading welfare and environmental standards on an independent farm.

    The team at Tablas Creek Vineyard chose to certify with AGW because they felt the programs best mirrored their exemplary animal husbandry practices and commitment to sustainability.

     

    Nathan Stuart, Shepherd at Tablas Creek Vineyard says,

     

    “The flock of sheep at Tablas Creek Vineyard play a key role in building healthy soil.  We are proud to hold multiple certifications from A Greener World, demonstrating not only our high-welfare, sustainable management practices but our commitment to farming in ways that benefit the climate.”

     

    AGW Director of Communications and Outreach Emily Moose says,

     

    “In a marketplace crowded with misinformation and greenwashing, trusted third-party certifications like Certified Animal Welfare Approved by AGW, Certified Grassfed by AGW and Certified Non-GMO by AGW deliver real transparency for farmers and consumers. We’re proud to work with businesses like Tablas Creek Vineyard to promote their high-quality products and sustainable farming practices.”

     

    For more information about AGW-certified products from Tablas Creek Vineyard, visit tablascreek.com along with the vineyard’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts or contact 805-237-1231 and info@tablascreek.com.

  • CAWG Mourns Passing of Founding Chair Richard Keehn

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) is saddened to share that Richard Keehn, a founding member of CAWG and the first chair of its board of directors, passed away on Dec. 20, 2019.

    Following a decorated 15-year career in the U.S. Army, Keehn began farming winegrapes in Mendocino County in the early 1970s. In the years that followed, he became one of the industry’s most devoted leaders.

    In 1974, California winegrape growers were challenged by numerous issues, including low prices and unfair business practices, pest and disease management, and several new state and federal laws. Keehn and several winegrape growers believed they would be stronger industry advocates if they organized as a group. They met with Bank of America and each grower signed a personal guarantee of $10,000 to launch CAWG.

    Thanks to the foresight and efforts of Keehn and fellow founding members, CAWG was created and has become an effective statewide organization protecting and promoting the interests of California winegrape growers. CAWG is now in its 46th year.

    Keehn served as CAWG’s chair for four years (1974-1978) and as a director for seven years. He also contributed his leadership and expertise to other agricultural endeavors, such as the California World Trade Commission Advisory Council, California Board of Food and Agriculture, American Vineyard Foundation and Wine Institute. Keehn was the recipient of the 2014 CAWG Leader of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual whose record of exceptional leadership has benefitted California’s wine industry and is an inspiration to others.

    Keehn’s obituary provides more details about his life, career and accomplishments, as well as donations in his honor. For more information, please contact Karen Keehn at kskeehn@gmail.com.

  • Tulare County Crop Report (For the week ending December 28, 2019)

    SMALL GRAINS AND OTHER FIELD CROPS:

    Winter grain crop planting is finished. Winter grain plants are beginning to emerge from the soil. Some wheat, oats, and barley fields are being treated for weed control, as the winter wheat germination will increase due to high moisture.

     

    DECIDUOUS TREE FRUITS, NUTS, AND GRAPES:

    Almond and pistachio harvest have ended. Dead and fallen almond and pistachio trees are being removed and burned or chipped. Older vineyards are being removed. Pistachios are being exported to Israel, Italy, Spain, Turkey, China, Korea, Poland Germany India, Singapore, Ukraine, Switzerland, the Philippines, Lithuania, India, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Hong Kong. Almonds are being exported to Korea, Israel, Taiwan, Colombia, India, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Germany, South Africa, Indonesia, Chile, Barbados, Belgium, and Turkey. Black-eyed beans are being exported to the United Kingdom. Grape vineyards are being pruned and fertilized. Table grapes are being exported to Mexico, the Philippines, and Taiwan. Wine Grape vineyards are being pruned and planted with cover crops. Pomegranates from cold storage are being exported to Mexico. Walnuts are being exported to Italy, Turkey, and Morocco. Persimmons continue to be harvested, packed, and sent mainly to domestic markets, but a few loads continue to be exported to Mexico.

     

    CITRUS, AVOCADOS, AND OLIVES:

    Navel oranges, lemons, and limes continue to be harvested. Navel orange maturity testing is complete, and fruit is being exported to Malaysia, Peru, China, Korea, Japan, the Dominican Republic, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Vietnam, Singapore, Ukraine, Switzerland, Chile, Ecuador, Australia, and New Zealand. High sugar and acid navels are being exported to Korea and Japan. Organic Clementine Mandarins are being picked and packed for U.S. and Mexico markets. Blood oranges are being packed for domestic markets. Melogolds are being harvested and sent to Korea and Japan. Olives are undergoing post-harvest pruning.

     

    VEGETABLES, MELONS, HERBS, AND BERRIES:          

    Winter vegetables are in various stages of growth. Strawberries are continuing to develop under plastic mulch. Peas are germinating. Blueberries are being pruned and prepared for the winter.

     

    LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY:

    Irrigated pastures are in good to excellent condition. Non-irrigated pastures are in better condition from the recent rains which was a great benefit for the rangeland forage.

     

    TOM’S ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

    Winter storms are making their way into the valley this week. This will be good for many of the winter grain and silage crops. The snow accumulation will be good for refilling local reservoirs next spring and higher elevation pastures. Local nurseries have an increased demand for bare root trees and berries.

  • “Brand New” Sun-Maid Holds 107TH Annual Meeting

    Sun-Maid Growers of California held its 107th Annual membership meeting at the Convention Center’s “New Exhibit Hall” in Downtown Fresno this past weekend. The theme “It’s a Brand New Sun-Maid—And it’s not just Business as Usual” was evident throughout the event with a fresh approach to facing challenges in the industry and continuing company-wide transformation. More than 1,000 raisin growers, families and guests were in attendance.

    Sun-Maid President & CEO, Harry Overly laid out the company’s work during the past year to transform Sun-Maid, including an all-encompassing marketing campaign launched at the start of 2019.

    “Our marketing efforts appealed to today’s millennial mom in an extremely relevant way and as such, we increased Sun-Maid branded sales, household usage, and household penetration amongst this newly targeted demographic,” Overly said.

    In addition to covering marketing wins and highlighting new products, President Overly articulated a change in corporate strategy as well, with the aim to drive brand value and strengthen member returns via a multi-faceted approach.His plans include optimizing the company’s current core raisin business in addition to diversifying Sun-Maid’s product portfolio with exciting innovation and future acquisitions.

    Chairman Steve Kister provided a review of the 2019 crop, industry supply and demand, and future for raisin growers. Both Kister and Overly stressed Sun-Maid’s investment in the future and how the new strategy, while different from historical practices, will deliver for Sun-Maid growers.

    Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid is the world’s largest marketer of raisins and other premium quality dried fruits. Sun-Maid’s sales are approximately half retail consumer products and half ingredient products for items such as cereals, breads and a variety of other food products. Headquartered in Fresno, California, in the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, Sun-Maid products are distributed throughout the United States and in more than 50 countries around the world.

  • How Do You Define Smoke Tainted Wine Grapes?

    Growers across California are now accepting the fact that wildfires are a seasonal threat to their crops.  With wineries rejecting “smoke tainted” wine grapes even under contract, this has become a very sensitive issue, particularly in Northern California, Oregon and Washington. But just how much smoke exposure to the crop warrants rejection as being “smoke tainted?” Working with local wine grower organizations, UCCE Viticulture Farm Advisor Glenn McGourty set out to determine the truth. He shared results of this study recently at Malcolm Media’s Sonoma Grape Expo. Watch this brief interview as Glenn as he shares the results of his study and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.

    Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery for their industry support and see them at their booth at Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento, February 4-6 (Booth P1842).

  • Wine Industry Leader Jeff O’Neill to Keynote at 2020 Unified Symposium

    The 2020 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is set to open on Tuesday, February 4, at Cal Expo in Sacramento, with three days of networking, learning about the latest technological advances, and critical trends and information required to plan for the year ahead. The 2020 Unified Symposium opens with a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Jeff O’Neill, CEO of O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, the 7th largest winery in California. Mr. O’Neill has led his company on a path of dramatic growth in the past six years by entering the consumer branded business that has surpassed one million 9L cases sold in 2019. His candid talk will explore the many challenges and opportunities facing the wine industry today, including consolidation, consumer trend shifts, increased competition and more.

    Mr. O’Neill entered the wine business in 1985 when he founded Golden State Vintners with a private equity group and served as the CEO for 19 years. He launched O’Neill Vintners & Distillers in 2004 as an innovative, privately owned California winery that produced premium quality wines and spirits through vertically integrated operations. The business has grown to become one of the largest premium varietal wine and brandy producers with a reputation for producing high quality wines from the North Coast, Central Coast and Central Valley. O’Neill’s growing portfolio includes the company’s fast growing Line 39, as well as the other brands in the company’s national brands’ portfolio that include Robert Hall, Harken, Exitus, Day Owl and Intercept.

    “At this year’s Unified, industry members will undoubtedly be talking about the unprecedented challenges and many complexities facing the wine business,” says O’Neill. “I’m honored to have the opportunity to contribute to that discussion and to share our perspective at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers on the many challenges and opportunities confronting wineries and grape growers.”

    Registration for the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium is online at www.unifiedsymposium.org or by calling (888) 529-9272. The Keynote Luncheon is a separate fee. For more information about registration, visit the website or click here. The 2020 Unified Wine & Grape Symposium will be held on February 4-6, with exhibits open on February 5 and 6, at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Cal Expo is located at 1600 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95815.

    Built with the joint input of growers, vintners and allied industry members, the Unified Symposium serves as a clearinghouse of information important to wine and grape industry professionals. The Unified Symposium also hosts the industry’s largest trade show of its kind, with 700 vendors displaying their products and services. For more information, go to www.unifiedsymposium.org.