California Ag Network

Tag: CAWG

  • Progress on Winegrape Exemption from FSMA’s Produce Safety Rule

    Sacramento, Calif., (July 21, 2017) – The Senate Committee on Appropriations on July 20 approved a bill that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for fiscal year 2018. The appropriations bill includes an important statement of policy urging FDA to distinguish between grape varietals so that growers of winegrapes may be eligible for exemption or exclusion from the Food Safety Modernization Act’s produce safety rule.

    The committee’s report language complements language in the House of Representatives agricultural appropriations bill, which urged FDA to initiate a process to distinguish between grape varietals so that winegrape growers may be exempted from the produce safety rule.

    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) on June 15 submitted a formal request to FDA to exempt winegrapes from the produce safety rule on the basis that they are rarely consumed raw. More than 30 other commodities are exempt from the rule because they are nearly always cooked or processed before consumption, thus eliminating the risk of foodborne illnesses. CAWG provided FDA and various members of the California congressional delegation a 10-page white paper detailing the justification for the winegrape exemption.

    Starting in 2018, FDA’s produce safety rule requires most commercial growers of winegrapes to document, through a burdensome exchange of notice and assurance with buyers, that the harvested grapes have in fact been processed into wine. Growers must keep records of this exchange, for every load shipped, for a two-year period. Failure to adhere to these requirements could result in winegrape growers having to comply with other aspects of the produce safety rule, which is intended to ensure the safety of raw produce.

    “The fact is that California winegrape varietals are rarely consumed raw and FDA should categorically exempt them from the produce safety rule,” CAWG President John Aguirre said.

    Wine Institute, Napa Valley Vintners and Washington Winegrowers Association have joined CAWG in support of this effort. “We will continue to work closely with other industry organizations to press FDA to change its policy,” Aguirre said.

  • CAWG Seeks Winegrape Exemption from Produce Safety Rule

    SACRAMENTO, June 20, 2017 – The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) has requested the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) exempt winegrapes from its produce safety rule under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and place them on a list of produce commodities rarely consumed raw. The action would exempt growers and wineries from having to comply with unnecessary and burdensome requirements and paperwork under the rule.

    On June 15, CAWG President John Aguirre sent a letter and 10-page white paper to FDA detailing CAWG’s request. More than 30 commodities, such as potatoes and asparagus, are listed as rarely consumed raw and thus exempt from the produce safety rule. FDA determined these commodities are nearly always cooked or otherwise processed before consumption, thus eliminating risks of foodborne illness. CAWG argued that winegrapes are also not grown, harvested or sold to consumers for fresh consumption; they are almost universally grown and sold for processing into wine. As such, winegrapes should also be exempt from the produce safety rule.

    Currently, winegrape growers can only obtain an exemption from the produce safety rule by adhering to specific notice and assurance requirements under the rule’s processing exemption. Beginning with the 2018 harvest, FDA will require growers provide written notice with each load of winegrapes shipped that the grapes have not been processed. Starting in 2020, wineries will need to provide assurance to growers that the winegrapes received were indeed processed into wine. Growers are required to maintain a record of these notice and assurance transactions for up to two years. Failure to follow these steps precisely may invalidate the processing exemption and force winegrape growers to comply with the many provisions of the produce safety rule.

    “When FDA published its produce safety rule, the agency acknowledged that making wine from grapes effectively eliminates any risk of foodborne illness that might occur with raw grapes,” Aguirre said. “However, FDA failed to include winegrapes on the list of commodities rarely consumed raw because the agency feared growers of cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, chardonnay and other varietals may sell those grapes for fresh consumption. Our letter to FDA should provide sufficient information for the agency to determine that California winegrapes are distinct from table and raisin type grapes and are rarely consumed raw.”

    CAWG director Mike Testa, of Coastal Vineyard Care, said, “It’s absurd to think that a Santa Barbara County winegrape grower would sell pinot noir or chardonnay grapes into fresh table or raisin grape market channels. All commercial winegrape production in Santa Barbara County, as in many other California counties, is destined for a fermentation tank. FDA’s produce safety rule should acknowledge that and exempt winegrapes.”

     

     

    Media contact:

    • John Aguirre, (916) 379-8995, john@cawg.org

  • New CAWG Director of Gov’t Relations Addresses Grape Industry Challenges

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    The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) recently announced Michael Miiller as their new Director of Government Relations. Michael has many years of experience working with legislature and he has already hit the ground running advocating on behalf of growers in his new position, especially with the CAWG day at Capitol Hill coming up on March 15. Watch this video and read more about how CAWG is working to overcome legislative and regulatory challenges impacting the California grape industry in American Vineyard Magazine.

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  • CAWG Foundation Gala for Student Scholarships, March 15

    Second Annual CAWG Foundation Gala to Raise Funds for Student Scholarships

    SACRAMENTO – The California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG) Foundation will host its second annual CAWG Foundation Gala, which will feature a reception, silent auction and a friendly wine competition judged by California political leaders. It will be held at The Sutter Club in Sacramento on March 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

    The goal of the gala is to bring together California legislators, government officials and CAWG members to increase awareness of the foundation’s accomplishments and raise money for scholarships for children of California winegrape grower employees.

    For the wine competition, legislators and government officials were invited to nominate California red or white wines. Nominated wineries that have confirmed for the competition so far include Beach House Winery, Bloomfield Vineyards, Claiborne & Churchill Winery, Cooper Vineyards, Doffo Winery, Fiddletown Cellars, Four Brix Winery, Gratta Wines, Iron Horse Vineyards, J. Lohr Vineyards and Wines, Michael David Winery, Oak Farm Vineyards, Opolo Vineyards, Rosenblum Cellars, Rusack Vineyards, Scheid Vineyards, The Steven Kent Winery, Wiens Family Cellar and Wilson Creek Winery. For event information, visit www.cawg.org (calendar and events).

    “We were pleased with the enthusiastic response at last year’s event and wanted to build on that this year,” said CAWG President John Aguirre. “With the support of participating wineries and legislators and success in fundraising, we can make a difference in the lives of students by providing financial assistance for their education.”

    Contacts:

    • Meredith Ritchie, CAWG Communications, 916-984-4473, meredith@cawg.org
    • Natalie Collins, CAWG Manager of Member Relations, 916-379-8995, natalie@cawg.org

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers Foundation

    The CAWG Foundation is a nonprofit public benefit corporation. Each year the foundation awards two $8,000 four-year scholarships to students planning to attend a campus in the University of California or California State University system, and four $2,000 two-year scholarships to students planning to attend a California community college. Scholarships are awarded to high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian is employed by a California winegrape grower. The Robert Miller Memorial Scholarship is awarded to a student who resides on the Central Coast and plans to major in enology or viticulture at Allan Hancock College or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The foundation awards at least seven scholarships each year and has awarded $371,500 since its inception in 1998. For more information, visit www.cawgfoundation.org.

    About the California Association of Winegrape Growers

    CAWG provides industry leadership to advocate for public policies, research and education programs, and sustainable farming practices to enhance the business of growing California winegrapes. The organization represents the growers of more than 50 percent of the gross grape tonnage crushed for wine and concentrate in California. For more information, visit www.cawg.org.

  • Honoring Jeryl & Bruce Fry as CAWG Grower of the Year

    Recognized as Grower of the Year at the 2016 CAWG Summer Conference in Monterey, Jeryl & Bruce Fry of Mohr-Fry Ranches have been great examples of leadership and sustainable grape-growing in the expanding wine region of Lodi. Watch this video of the presentation delivered by Aaron Lange of CAWG recognizing these two outstanding individuals.