California Ag Network

Tag: COVID-19

  • Is COVID-19 Aid Reaching Farmers?

    The second iteration of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP-2) developed by USDA to help compensate farmers for losses due to the coronavirus pandemic is working much better and reaching more farmers than the first round of aid launched earlier this year. Since CFAP-2 opened to farmers on September 21, 2020 participation has been brisk and as the program application window has only one month left (closing December 11, 2020), it is time to revisit how the program is benefitting farmers, questions and concerns that have arisen, and if there are any lessons to draw upon for future aid to farmers as the pandemic continues to spread unchecked through most parts of the country.

    This blog will highlight some elements of CFAP-2 but for a far more authoritative treatment, please see the Farmers’ Guide to Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2recently published by our colleagues at the Farmers’ Legal Action Group (FLAG).

    Who Is Benefitting?

    The original CFAP-1 program had severe shortcomings but one in particular limited its utility for many farmers. CFAP-1 had a single payment option – the price loss payment – where farmers received a formula payment based on the national average price decline of a crop or commodity. The payment rates were extremely low and the number of commodities that were eligible was limited. While some payment rates were increased and the list of eligible commodities expanded over time, the basic formula remained.

    Because the formula employed a national average price decline to calculate payment rates, the checks farmers received did not necessarily reflect what they would have earned in their own market. This was especially true for farmers and ranchers that sold directly to their customers – restaurants, institutions, schools, and everyone at local farmers markets – as they often earn a price premium on these products. So too for producers of organic farm goods or any other products, such as pasture raised meats, that typically command a higher price compared to conventional products.

    By the time the CFAP-1 program ran its course, 651,099 farmers had received more than $10 Billion in payments, but it was widely acknowledged that the primary beneficiaries were cattle producers ($4.3 Billion) while diversified specialty crop growers ($834 Million) came up short.

    This is where CFAP-2 is a marked improvement over CFAP-1. While CFAP-2 retains the price loss payment for some commodities (a major problem for producers that are still required to take this payment option because of the crops they grow) it also includes two new payment options for farmers – the flat rate and the sales commodities payment. The flat rate payment option pays $15 per acre and is targeted to a wide variety of small grains and other similar non-commodity row crops. This opened the program to many diversified small grain growers and oil seed producers who were excluded from CFAP-1.

    The more significant change was the addition of the sales commodity payment, which is open to producers of specialty crops, nursery crops, tobacco, some minor livestock species, and aquaculture products. This payment is based on a producer’s revenue derived from those farm products in 2019 and mirrors the revenue based payment program proposed in the Local and Regional Farmer and Market Support Act (Local Farmer Act), that was developed with support of NSAC and Coalition member the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association. This payment option has been especially important for diversified growers, farmers who grow organic or otherwise higher valued farm products, and producers who sell directly to their customers. Payments based on historic revenue, rather than wholesale price declines, better reflect farmers’ real losses due to market disruptions.

    Nearly all crops and products not covered under the other two payment options are eligible for the sales commodity payment and although the payment rates are relatively modest (approximately 10%) they have been well received by diversified growers and specialty crop and livestock producers. With nearly a month left to sign up for the program, CFAP-2 has already paid 576,399 farmers more than $9.5 Billion in payments, well ahead of the CFAP-1 program during the same time period.

    What is more telling is the distribution of those payments. While row crop and cattle producers continue to derive the greatest payments, specialty crop and specialty livestock payments have increased from $833 Million under CFAP-1 to $1.2 Billion under CFAP-2 and the rate of payments to farmers for eligible sales commodities continues to grow even as claims for other payments slow. This is particularly remarkable given that early projections of CFAP-2 payments anticipated that specialty crops would likely receive only $313 million in payments.

    Are there problems with CFAP-2?

    Yes, but there is progress. In the process of helping farmers understand CFAP-2 through webinars and developing supporting materials, a number of questions and concerns have been raised about the structure and administration of the program. NSAC has worked with USDA to get answers to some of the farmer questions which are summarized below.

    1. Will farmers be required to obtain an FSA number to apply for CFAP-2?

    Yes. An acreage report is required for the acreage-based assistance, which includes both price-trigger and flat rate payments. To file an acreage report, a farm must be established with FSA. 

    • Is there any reservation of funding, or other mechanism, to ensure that farmers who apply late in the application cycle will receive the payment for which they are eligible?

    No. The funding allocated for CFAP-2 is based on USDA’s rigorous analysis of the impacts of market disruptions and associated costs caused by COVID-19 (farmers.gov/cfap) and is anticipated to meet the applications submitted by farmers and ranchers. However, there is no contingency in place if demand exceeds existing funding. 

    • What material will be accepted as documentation of 2019 sales from farmers who are subject to a USDA ‘spot check’?

    The USDA CFAP-2 handbook contains several examples. If selected for spot check, participants will be required to provide documentation to support their certification. The Department recognizes available documentation will vary significantly by commodity as well as method of sale and will work with participants, as appropriate, on any concerns with documentation to support certifications.

    • How will USDA determine which farmers will be ‘spot checked?’ Will this selection process be random, a set percentage of applications made to each program payment option, or based on payment amounts, familiarity of the FSA office staff with the farmer/applicant, or on a perceived risk of fraudulent activity? There is a serious concern that any selection criteria used by the agency be uniform and that the standards applied not increase the probability that small, diversified operations are audited or that applications submitted by historically underserved farmers, including Black, indigenous, and producers of color, are reviewed at higher rates than the total pool of applicants reviewed.

    Spot checks will be based on a statistically-sound, random sample with additional selections identified to ensure a sufficient sample of all types of commodities is completed to meet program integrity requirements.

    • Who will conduct the ‘spot checks’ of program eligibility? What is the role of FSA field staff and central office staff in identifying cases for review or in conducting the reviews? There is a serious concern that the review of eligibility by agency staff be uniform and equitable.

    The national office outlines and oversees the spot check process. Spot checks will be completed by FSA staff, which may be the local office staff, regional staff, or staff from within the state and/or neighboring state.

    • When will USDA make Spanish language versions of all CFAP-2 application materials (including supporting documents CCC-902, AD-1026, etc.) available and will both online and paper forms be available? In what other languages will the application documents be available?

    Translations for the CFAP 2 application (AD-3117) and CCC-902I (for individuals) will be available soon. The CCC-902E (for entities) is available in Spanish, as is the CCC-902 Continuation. The AD-1026 is currently available in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Vietnamese.

    • What is the process that USDA will use to inform producers that their CFAP-1 and CFAP-2 applications were denied or that the amount of the payment for which they were approved was “adjusted” by USDA, and is therefore different from that on the farmer’s application? Has USDA sent any denial letters to farmers for either CFAP-1 or CFAP-2?

    If an application is disapproved or any information on the application is adjusted from what is certified by the applicant, the local FSA office provides written notification to the applicant and provides appeal rights. This is the process with CFAP-1, CFAP-2, and all other programs administered by FSA. 

    • Producers that do not have current records on file at their FSA offices will likely need to demonstrate their conservation compliance when applying for CFAP-2 through the submission of Form AD-1026 “Highly Erodible Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation (WC) Certification.” Is there a process in place to ensure that farmers that need NRCS determinations of HELC and WC can receive them quickly so that their applications can be submitted and considered before the program closes on December 11th?

    CFAP payments will be processed in advance of the determination being completed for any producer certifying in compliance with the highly erodible land and wetland provisions. The determination will still need to be completed but will not result in delaying issuance of payments.

    How can future coronavirus aid work better for farmers?

    At this moment, the prospects for another coronavirus response bill are dim until the new Congress convenes in January. Control of the Senate is still outstanding, pending runoff elections in Georgia, and the transition between the Trump and Biden Administrations is more fraught than any in living history. This makes the bipartisan work necessary to craft a coronavirus aid package that could help farmers during this difficult year extremely hard to achieve. However, this dynamic is likely to change in the next Congress as rates of coronavirus continue to increase and the spread into rural communities changes the political calculus of some legislators.

    In a future coronavirus package (C4), there are a number of actions that could help across all Americans across the entire food system and NSAC recently wrote to Congressional leadership to detail these priorities. In addition to those urgent needs, the next version of CFAP direct farmer aid should be improved by:

    • Opening the sales commodity payment program to all direct marketing farmers and other producers who grow products that command a price premium such as organic, pasture raised, or similar.
    • Making contract producers eligible for payments CFAP payments.
    • Increasing the payment rates for the sales commodity payment program and including a mechanism for farmers to demonstrate – and be eligible to be compensated for – costs they have incurred to adapt to marketing their commodities during the pandemic.
    • Ensuring greater training and resources – particularly farmer oriented materials in a variety of languages – for FSA fields staff so that they can better serve all farmers and expand outreach efforts to ensure that all eligible farmers – particularly Black, Indigenous, and Farmers of Color – understand the program and how to apply for assistance.
    • Conducting a rigorous analysis of the farmers who applied for, received, or were deemed ineligible to receive assistance under CFAP-1 and -2 to ensure that the programs were administered equitably and that any future program actively counters any bias or discriminatory practices that may be discovered.

    The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition remains committed to ensuring that any future coronavirus response supports farmers, farmworkers, food system workers and all who rely on them for healthy, safe, nutritious food and that it align with the long term goal of creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable food system. — By National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

  • Quarantined Housing Program for Farm Workers in Imperial/Yuma Growing Regions

    In April, the Grower Shipper Association of Central California (GSA) established a first-of-its-kind housing program for farm workers in the Salinas Valley who were exposed to COVID-19, tested positive for the virus or were symptomatic.  To assist its members in protecting farm workers as the growing season transitions to the Yuma and Imperial areas, GSA has established a similar quarantined housing program in that region.

    Quarantined housing in Yuma and Imperial was accessible as of November 1.  It will offer the same services to farm workers as the Central Coast program, including safe and comfortable rooms, daily deliveries of meals and other necessities as well as daily health checks with a team of nursing professionals.

    “We learned a great deal over the last several months and we were happy to lend our expertise to setting up and managing this program to ensure farm workers in the Yuma and Imperial areas have access to quarantined housing whenever needed,” says Christopher Valadez, President of GSA.

    GSA’s program earned praise from Governor Gavin Newsom who modeled the state’s “Housing for the Harvest” program on the organization’s efforts. In Newsom’s housing program announcement in July, the governor thanked the Monterey County farming community for the work they have done in their region to protect workers describing these efforts as “an incredible job in this state supporting ag workers and farm workers.”    

    The quarantined housing program not only provides farm workers with a comfortable environment where they can rest and recover, but it protects their families and housemates by limiting their exposure to the virus.

    In addition to the quarantined housing program, GSA was also part of a collaborative group that created among the first workplace protection standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in agricultural operations, accessed and distributed over a million face masks; developed a program with local hospitals to provide on-site prevention training for farm workers by health professionals and partnered with Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas to provide expedited COVID-19 testing which allowed more timely results and more convenient locations for workers.

    Farmers and farming companies in the Yuma and Imperial areas who want more information on the quarantined housing program should contact Christopher Valadez.

  • More than $7 Billion Paid in Second Round of USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

    U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that in the first month of the application period, the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) approved more than $7 billion in payments to producers in the second round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. CFAP 2 provides agricultural producers with financial assistance to help absorb some of the increased marketing costs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “America’s agriculture communities are resilient, but still face many challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These payments directed by President Trump will continue to help this critical industry recoup some of their losses from ongoing market disruptions and associated costs,” said Secretary Perdue. “This program builds upon the over $10 billion disbursed under the first round of CFAP. Agricultural producers who have been impacted by the pandemic since April 2020 are encouraged to apply for assistance.”

    Since CFAP 2 enrollment began on September 21, FSA has approved more than 443,000 applications. The top five states for payments are Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois and Kansas. USDA has released a data dashboard on application progress and program payments and will release further updates each Monday at 2:00 p.m. ET. The report can be viewed at farmers.gov/cfap.

    Through CFAP 2, USDA is making available up to $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first iteration of CFAP (CFAP 1). Farmers and ranchers who participated in CFAP 1 will not be automatically enrolled and must complete a new application for CFAP 2. FSA will accept CFAP 2 applications through December 11, 2020.

    Eligible Commodities

    CFAP 2 supports eligible producers of row crops, livestock, specialty crops, dairy, aquaculture, and many other commodities, including many that were ineligible for CFAP 1. FSA’s CFAP 2 Eligible Commodities Finder makes finding eligible commodities and payment rates simple. Access this tool and other resources at farmers.gov/cfap.

    Getting Help from FSA

    New customers seeking one-on-one support with the CFAP 2 application process can call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office at their local USDA Service Center.

    FSA offers multiple options for producers to apply for CFAP 2. Producers with an eAuthentication account can apply online through the CFAP 2 Application Portal. Also available is a payment calculator and application generator that is an Excel workbook that allows producers to input information specific to their operation to determine estimated payments and populate the application form, which can be printed, signed, and submitted to the local FSA office. Producers can also download the CFAP 2 application and other eligibility forms from farmers.gov/cfap.

    Producers of acreage-based commodities will use acreage and yield information provided by FSA through the annual acreage reporting process. Producers have the option to complete their application by working directly with their local FSA staff or online through the CFAP 2 Application Portal.

    CFAP 2 is not a loan program, and there is no cost to apply.

    More Information

    To find the latest information on CFAP 2, visit farmers.gov/CFAP or call 877-508-8364.

    All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will be in the office, and they will be working with our producers in the office, by phone, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

  • Over 70% of Sonoma County Winegrowers Suffer Losses this Year

    Though the 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions, a mid-August lightning storm during a global pandemic resulted in a dramatic turn for Sonoma County’s winegrapes and a financial blow to the region just as it has with other wine regions across California. 
     
    “No one could have predicted how the external events of 2020 would impact the entire community in Sonoma County including growers, vintners, workers, local hotels, restaurants, stores, suppliers and, ultimately, local residents,” said Karissa Kruse, president of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We estimate between 25% – 30% of the Sonoma County winegrape harvest will go unpicked due to the pandemic and fires.  We are also still waiting to learn what wines will be made this year.  So far, we have identified approximately a $150,000,000 loss to growers which will have a ripple effect on the County’s local wine and tourism industries which can contribute up to $13.4 billion annually to the local economy in a normal year.”
     
    Given the extensive national media focus on wine country in recent months, Sonoma County Winegrowers sought accurate data to determine the state of the winegrowing community and the effect on the 2020 harvest season.  The organization just completed a survey of its growers and released the results today.  Among the key findings:

    • More than 70% of all winegrape growers in Sonoma County anticipate having at least some grapes that will go unpicked or be rejected by wineries due to the wildfires.
    • Grape growers estimate that the total tonnage of unpicked grapes due to marketplace dynamics, COVID’s impact on local wineries and tourism, and the fires will exceed 50,000 tons, this is on a lower than average base of 180,000 tons due to the anticipated lighter crop this season.
    • The estimated crop value for winegrapes that were not harvested equates to approximately $151,657,081

    In addition to the financial losses from this year’s wildfires, growing winegrapes in Sonoma County in recent years has been physically and mentally hard on growers, vineyard workers and their families.

    “One of the bright spots in a dismal year has been the recent efforts of our winegrowers to transform their businesses to prepare for an ever-changing future,” said Kruse.  She added, “Following the fires in 2017, the grower community set out to adopt a new approach to doing business which included hiring more full-time employees to secure a stable, talented workforce.”
    After a decade of labor shortages and losing additional employees to jobs in construction and an emerging cannabis industry, local winegrape growers began shifting away from relying on seasonal vineyard workers to hiring full-time employees which eliminated the need to constantly attract and secure new seasonal workers each year.  Today, more than 80% of local vineyard workers in Sonoma County are full-time which is almost a 20 percent increase since 2017.

    Full-time employement provides a level of permanency for workers and their families enabling them to establish roots in the community while securing a skilled, knowlegeable workforce for employers in the future.

    According to the grower survey:

    • Today, more than 80% of local vineyard workers in Sonoma County are full-time which is nearly a 20 percent increase since 2017.
    • Women now account for 20% of the local vineyard workforce.
    • The average hourly rate of pay for Sonoma County vineyard workers is $19.87 per hour.  The average hourly wage has increased $3.13 per hour since 2017.
    • During the same period, the shift to full-time employment has led to a decrease in the seasonal workforce by approximately 50 percent, mechanized harvesting is now done on 30% of the vineyard acres in Sonoma County and participation in the H-2A Guest Worker Program continues to grow.
    • In Sonoma County, just 5.6% of the region’s Latinx population are employed as vineyard workers.

    This year can certainly be defined as challenging for the region. Fortunately, as a result of the early harvest, more than 15% of the winegrapes had been picked  before the  LNU complex fires began and 90% had been harvested by the start of the  “Glass Fire” which was the year’s third major wildfire in Sonoma County. Once again, many winegrape growers, vineyard workers and their families in Sonoma County were forced to evacuate their homes and ranches.  In response, the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation reopened its Resiliency Fund in August to raise money to support local farmworkers who may have been impacted through evacuations or loss of work.
    Through the Resiliency Fund nearly $100,000 in financial assistance has been provided to more than 200 farmworkers and their families who lost their homes or were forced to evacuate from the fires this year.  Another 40 farmworkers and their families who were negatively impacted by COVID-19 also received financial assistance from the fund. Since 2017, the Foundation has supported over 1,500 local farmworkers and provided $1.3 million in direct financial assistance.

    Additionally, throughout the year, the Foundation has been leading the charge to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.  It distributed more than 14,000 masks to local grape growers for their employees.  It also produced videos in Spanish to assist with the communication and understanding of COVID-19 and best practices on how to stay safe. The videos were used for a social media campaigns and advertising directed at the Latinx community. 

    Looking ahead, top concerns for Sonoma County winegrowers are wanting more research on the impacts of smoke; access to rapid testing to measure smoke exposure; and, a dedicated effort to clean up dead trees and brush in forests and woodlands to prevent or slow the spread of fires.  Most of all, Sonoma County winegrowers await the opportunity to share their wine and region with neighbors and visitors in the months ahead.

    “We are grateful for the resolve of Sonoma County winegrowers who remain committed to their vineyards and employees.  The best way to support our growers, workers, families, and community is to purchase Sonoma County wine whenever possible, and especially cherish wines from the 2020 vintage. They will be hard earned and well loved” said Kruse. She added, “While there will be a 2020 Sonoma County vintage, we are hoping for a long, boring 2021 season.”

    For more information about the Sonoma County Grape Growers Foundation, visit: https://www.scggf.org/

  • UC Davis Wants Samples of Your Fermented Foods for Science

    It’s not always easy to find silver linings during the COVID-19 pandemic, but here’s one that food scientists at the University of California, Davis, have discovered: More people are exploring the ancient art of fermented foods.

    “My mom made her first batch of sauerkraut this summer,” said Maria Marco, a microbiologist and food science professor with the UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. “With so many of us sheltering-in-place, fermented foods are more popular than ever.”

    Marco takes more than a culinary interest in America’s latest food trend. Marco and Erin DiCaprio, a food safety expert and Cooperative Extension specialist at UC Davis, are investigating the microbial mysteries of fermented fruits and vegetables to better understand the role fermentation can play in healthy diets.

    And you can help.

    “We’re calling on people from across the state to send us samples of their home ferments so we can characterize their microbial composition,” Marco said. “Citizen scientists can help us expand the body of knowledge about the nutritional content and beneficial bacteria in fermented fruits and vegetables.”

    Marco, DiCaprio and their team of mostly undergraduate student scientists are looking for “fresh” ferments that are composed mainly of fruits and vegetables. By fresh, they mean samples taken right after fermentation, before refrigeration. They will be collecting samples for the next year. If you live in the Davis or Sacramento area, they can arrange to pick up your sample. If you live outside the area, or want to learn more, contact the team at EAT LAC (as in, lactic acid).

    Managing microbes

    Fermented foods and beverages are produced by nurturing conditions that discourage the growth of harmful bacteria and encourage the growth of beneficial microorganisms. Take sauerkraut, for example. When you combine cabbage, salt, time and the right temperatures, you can help friendly microbes flourish. As they do, they convert sugars in the cabbage into lactic acid and other compounds with tangy flavor that keep harmful bacteria at bay.

    Similar chemistry is at work when producing a long list of fermented foods, such as yogurt, cheese, bread, alcohol, chocolate, coffee, salami, vinegar, kimchi, miso, tempeh and pozol.

    Besides adding new flavors and textures, fermentation can extend the shelf life of food, improve our ability to absorb some nutrients and — perhaps — provide an environment for beneficial bacteria to thrive in our digestive systems and help prevent chronic disease.

    “It’s quite possible that consuming fermented foods as part of a regular diet supports a healthy digestive tract and the microorganisms living in our intestine,” Marco said. “Our health may be helped by what those microbes eat, as well as by the nutrients they produce. Our goal is to provide solid evidence that can show whether fermented foods can, indeed, help fight disease. And if so, how.”

    Tips for fermenting safely at home 

    What’s the best way to ferment fruits and vegetables at home? DiCaprio is working with the UC Master Food Preserver Program to provide online fermentation classes.

    In the meantime, here are DiCaprio’s top tips:

    • Follow a research-based recipe, like the ones you can find at UC Food Safety, the USDA Complete Guide to Canning and the National Center for Home Food Preservation. “Some of the resources available online and in print haven’t been vetted for safety,” DiCaprio said. “They might not have you add enough salt in the beginning, for example, which is important for keeping your product from spoiling.”
    • Sanitation matters: Keep hands, equipment and the preparation area clean and sterile throughout the fermentation process.
    • Control temperature: Don’t let your ingredients get too hot or too cold.
    • Monitor the process to make sure it’s fermenting properly — that little bubbles are slowly rising to the surface, for example, and that mold isn’t growing throughout the container. “You can’t just set something on a counter and forget about it,” DiCaprio noted.
    • Skim the scum. It’s common for a layer of yeast and mold to form atop your vegetable brine after a few days. DiCaprio recommends skimming it off each day.

    “And be sure to start with good, fresh ingredients,” DiCaprio said. “We look forward to seeing the samples!” — By Diane Nelson, UC Davis, Food & Agriculture

    Purple cabbage used to make sauerkraut changes to a light pink color as it starts to ferment. (Hector Amezcua/UC Davis)

  • Five Steps for Ag Processors to Adapt their COVID-19 Incident Response Approach

    COVID-19 is a health crisis in the United States but major industries, like agriculture, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas exploration and production, all need to keep functioning as essential businesses in the midst of the crisis.  The response to COVID-19 has core parallels to major industrial accident response, which involves deploying the right resources for the task.  Every incident, be it a fire, explosion, or a government inspection and citation for regulatory compliance failures involves four key elements of response:  (1) the immediate response; (2) the extended response; (3) compliance and prevention; and (4) preparedness/lessons learned to improve.  This lifecycle of an incident applies equally to a COVID-19 contact among your employees or customers.  Make no mistake.  The stakes are high.  Recently, Cal/OSHA issued COVID-19 related citations to two companies of over $200,000 each, one to a frozen food manufacturer and the other to a temporary employment agency.  New legislation that becomes effective next year gives Cal/OSHA expanded authority to issue Orders Prohibiting Use for workplaces that pose risk of an “imminent hazard” relating to COVID-19.  In other words, they can shut your plant down if you don’t have the right procedures in place to respond to a COVID-19 incident.

    Processing plant managers are accustomed to incidents, such as injuries, agency inspections, or citations (hopefully not too frequently with respect to citations); applying the process in the context of COVID-19 can work extremely well, even where handling these situations requires adjustment for the particular crisis at hand.  In every crisis, the approach needs to be tailored, and COVID-19 incidents are no different.

    Examples of how a COVID-19 response needs to be tailored include determining work-relatedness to a positive test to COVID-19, identifying close contacts, identifying the agencies to whom notifications must be provided, and contact tracing for potentially exposed employees, testing, and implementing isolation protocols.  In the context of COVID-19, agriculture companies need to be keenly aware of increased Cal/OSHA oversight, as the agency has identified agricultural processing as a priority for enforcement because agricultural processing facility workers have been disproportionately impacted.

    When confronting a COVID-19 incident, follow these useful tips to help minimize liability and potential for citation by the government.

    1. Familiarize yourself with the Extensive Government Guidance Issued, Especially that Tailored to Your Industry

    There’s a saying in incident response:  your greatest exposure is not the incident itself but whether you follow the regulations for reporting and responding to the incident.  That’s true for a major chemical release from your operations and a COVID-19 incident, alike.  When the crisis emerged, several federal and state agencies provided guidance documents to companies on how to address potential cases of COVID-19.  Like the crisis, the guidance is evolving.  The government continues to update its approach and has even offered tailored to specific industries.  Following the agency guidance will put a facility in a much stronger compliance position when faced with a compliance inspection or determination of work-relatedness.

    Some key recent government guidance specific to the agricultural processing industry is listed below:

    • September 18, 2020, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated Guidelines intended for use by employers experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19 in their workplace.  It emphasizes that employers should be proactive and keep in mind that identification of even a single positive case among employees may quickly develop into an outbreak.
    • July 29, 2020, California COVID-19 Guidance for the agriculture and livestock industry to support a safe, clean environment for workers.  Recommendations include that an employer investigate any COVID-19 illness and determine if any work-related factors could have contributed to risk of infection;    identify close contacts (within six feet for fifteen minutes or more) of an infected worker and take steps to isolate COVID-19 positive worker(s) and close contacts; implement the necessary processes and protocols when a workplace has an outbreak, in accordance with the CDPH guidelines.
    • July 21, 2020, Cal/OSHA updated Guidance for the agriculture industry.  This provides:
    • COVID-19 Daily Checklist for Agricultural Employers
    • COVID-19 General Checklist for Agricultural Employers
    • Infection Prevention for Agricultural Employees and Employers
    1. Make Required Government Notifications

    Understand requirements for reporting employee cases to Cal/OSHA.  Any serious injury, illness, or death occurring in any place of employment or in connection with any employment must be reported by the employer to the local Cal/OSHA district office immediately.  For COVID-19, this includes inpatient hospitalizations and deaths among employees.

    On September 17, 2020, Governor Newsom also signed into law AB 685 which enhances reporting requirements to local health authorities in the event of a COVID-19 outbreak in the worksite.  The law takes effect on January 1, 2021.

    Employers should also check local guidance to determine if there are other investigation, reporting, or recording obligations triggered by a positive COVID-19 case.

    Finally, recognize that if an employee is out with COVID-19 or quarantined, other government obligations, like environmental reporting may fall by the wayside in their absence.  Develop a plan to ensure your ongoing government reporting obligations are being met, even those not COVID-19-related.  Having an employee out due to COVID-19 is likely not going to serve as an acceptable excuse for environmental noncompliance.

    1. Do the Investigation

    To comply with Cal/OSHA requirements, plant managers should ensure their companies are investigating positive COVID-19 determinations in a timely manner to identify any work-related factors and to identify close contacts.  This will protect employees, comply with Cal/OSHA requirements, and provide information that may be needed to in regards to the “disputable presumption” that exists in California for an employee who suffers illness or death resulting from COVID-19 on or after July 6, 2020 through January 1, 2023.

    COVID-19 related citations recently issued by Cal/OSHA included a failure to investigate about 20 COVID-19 illnesses and one death for a food manufacturer. Cal/OSHA’s news release highlighted that Cal/OSHA created guidance for many industries in multiple languages including videos, daily checklists and detailed guidelines on how to protect workers from the virus. This guidance is meant to provide a roadmap for employers on their existing obligations to protect workers from COVID-19.  If you don’t conduct required investigations, you will be placing your company at risk of being shut down through Cal/OSHA’s expanded authority to issue Orders Prohibiting Use for workplaces that pose a risks of an “imminent hazard” relating to COVID-19.

    1. Meet Requirements for Identifying and Notifying Potentially Affected Employees

    As part of the investigation, additional employee cases and close contacts (within six feet for fifteen minutes or more) should be identified in accordance with the regulations and guidance.  The facility will then need to conduct testing or alternative methods (e.g., contact tracing or quarantining) in consultation with the local health department to control the outbreak.

    All potentially exposed employees must be notified and employers must meet obligations regarding confidentiality of employees with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”).

    1. Review and Update the Facility COVID-19 Plan to Apply Lessons Learned and Improve

    In the July 29, 2020 COVID-19 Guidance for agriculture and livestock, the state of California  recommended that each facility establish a written, workplace-specific COVID-19 prevention plan, perform a comprehensive risk assessment of all work areas and work tasks, and designate a person at each facility to implement the plan. The plan should include sanitation practices, physical distancing, individual control measures, screening, and other incidental practices to prevent the spread amongst workers. Upon completion of the incident investigation, the facility should update the plan as needed to prevent further cases.

    Conclusion

    COVID-19 presents unique challenges to processing plant managers responding to incidents because of the difficulty in determining the source of infection, agency notification and attention, contact tracing, employee notification, testing, control measures, and return to work. Like any incident, COVID-19 incident response should focus on:  (1) the immediate response by making required agency notifications and dealing with the immediate employee concerns including contact tracing; (2) the extended response by conducting an incident investigation; (3) compliance and prevention by conducting testing or implement isolation protocols; and (4) preparedness/lessons learned to improve by reviewing and updating the facility COVID-19 plan. Processing plant managers who work quickly and diligently to respond to a COVID-19 incident will reap the benefit of minimizing regulatory scrutiny protecting employees and comply with legal reporting and notification requirements. They should also regularly check local, state, and federal guidance to determine if there are new or revised investigation, reporting, or recording obligations triggered by a positive COVID-19.   – By Daniel J. Grucza & Shannon S. Broome

    Dan Grucza is Counsel with Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP. He regularly advises companies on health and safety issues and has been a speaker and author on COVID-19 response issues and is a lead member of the firm’s incident response practice.

    Shannon S. Broome is the Managing Partner of Hunton Andrews Kurth’s San Francisco office and leads its environmental practice in California.  She routinely advises clients on Cal/OSHA compliance issues and on major accident and other incident response for industrial facilities.

  • US Tree Nuts Dominate EU Market, Consumer Demand Surges

    In 2019, U.S. shipments of tree nuts to the EU-28 (EU-27+UK) reached $3.1 billion. The United States continues to be the largest supplier of tree nuts to Europe. While EU investment and production of tree nuts continue to increase, production is still far from meeting domestic demand. Confinement measures during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic changed EU consumer habits. As consumers spent more time at home, demand for tree nuts, as a healthy snack option and as a home baking ingredient, grew compared to previous years. The evolution of consumer demand in the fall, the annual peak for tree nut consumption, will determine the extent to which this new consumption level will remain in the long term. 

    Executive Summary

    The EU Market: A Key Trading Partner for U.S. Tree Nuts

    The European Union-28 (EU-27+UK) is the largest export market for U.S. tree nuts absorbing 34 percent of total U.S. tree nuts exports in 2019. East Asia followed importing 23 percent while the Middle East imported 13 percent.

    In 2019, U.S. shipments of tree nuts to the EU-28 reached $3.1 billion. Sales of U.S. almonds (both in- shell and shelled) totaled close to $1.8 billion, followed by pistachios with $609 million and walnuts with almost $328 million. Within the EU, the most significant importers of U.S. tree nuts (in order of importance) are Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, accounting for 64 percent of total imports.

    The United States continues to be the largest supplier of tree nuts to Europe, with 41 percent of the market share (in value) in 2019. Turkey ranks second with a market share of 20 percent, followed by Vietnam, Chile, and China. Almonds continue to be the main imported tree nut with almost 24 percent of the total EU tree nuts imports. These numbers prove the importance of the United States as an agricultural trading partner to the EU.

    The Food Processing and the Snack Industry Remain the Most Significant Buyers

    The growing popularity of healthier snacking and eating habits among European consumers continues to encourage consumption of nuts, both tree nuts and ground nuts. The fight against cardiovascular diseases, the desire for general health and wellbeing, along with the publication of scientific studies highlighting the benefits of nut consumption, are likely to continue fueling demand for these products.

    In addition, the European food processing and snack industry are the largest users of tree nuts both as an ingredient (for traditional sweets and pastries), and for re-processing and re-export to third countries. Almonds are mainly used as an ingredient for the manufacturing of marzipan, nougat, turron (a Spanish traditional Christmas confection), and many other pastries and sweets. European food manufacturers also use walnuts and pistachio nuts as an ingredient for manufacturing ice cream and confectionaryproducts.

    The snacking industry is channeling its efforts to offer consumers new products and new ways to consume nuts. Thus, due to the mature nature of the European market, EU manufacturers are focusing their strategies on launching new value-added innovative products rather than focusing on volume sales. They continue to emphasize the health benefits of tree nuts, both through advertising campaigns and in packaging.

    Confinement measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic slightly changed EU consumer habits. As consumers spent more time at home, traditional consumers increased their demand for tree nuts, as a healthy snack option but also as a home baking ingredient. In addition, a wave of new consumers also fueled the growth in household tree nut demand. With the end of confinement measures, it is reasonable to assume that some of these new consumers will continue purchasing tree nuts. The evolution of demand in the fall, the traditional annual peak for tree nut consumption, will also determine the extent to which this new consumption level will remain in the long term.

    Expanding business in the EU market

    Since the EU remains a key export market for U.S. tree nuts, exporters continue to explore ways to expand their overseas business. Trade shows are an excellent opportunity to get to know the market and to meet potential importers. Some of Europe’s leading trade shows are:

    USDA-Endorsed Trade Shows

    Anuga October 9-13, 2021 Cologne, Germany
    Trade fair for the international food industry. In 2019, 7,500 exhibitors from 167 countries and 170,000 visitors determined the success of this show.

    SIAL October 15-19, 2022 Paris, France
    One of the largest and most important international marketplace for foodservice professionals, with 7,200 exhibitors and 160,000 visitors.

    Fruit Logistica February 3-5, 2021 Berlin, Germany
    Europe’s main international fresh produce trade show with more than 3,000 exhibitors and 78,000 visitors.

    Biofach February 17-20, 2021 Nuremberg, Germany
    World’s leading trade fair for organic food covering food, drinks and non-food products, with 3,218 exhibitors and 50,000 trade visitors from 134 countries participating in the previous edition.

    Other Relevant (Non-Endorsed) Trade Shows

    Food Ingredients Health Ingredients PLMA
    Alimentaria Snackex

    December 1-3, 2020 December 1-3, 2020 December 2-3, 2020 May 17-20, 2021 June 16-17, 2021

    Frankfurt, Germany Frankfurt, Germany Amsterdam, Netherlands Barcelona, Spain Hamburg, Germany

    New-to-market exporters interested in getting a better understanding of EU food regulations and market opportunities are encouraged to reference the EU-28 Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards (FAIRS) reports and Exporter Guides produced by various EU FAS Offices.

    U.S. Cooperators Active in the EU Market

    Trade associations like the Almond Board of California, American Pistachio Growers and the California Walnut Commission continue to develop strategies for the EU market. These trade associations, in cooperation with FAS offices, work actively to further develop the market for U.S. tree nuts. 

    Almonds, Shelled Basis

    Production

    The European Union is one of the world’s leading producers and consumers of almonds. Furthermore, the EU is the single largest export market for California almonds with Spain as the leading European importer. Every year, California almond production is exported to more than 100 countries worldwide, and the EU-28 represents almons 40 percent of all California’s almond exports.

    Spanish almond production continues its upward trend. Currently, high almond prices are increasing the number of hectares dedicated to almond planting as an alternative to less profitable crops. In recent seasons, new almond varieties, more modern irrigation techniques, and good prices have made the almond crop more profitable for investors and improved industry expectations.

    For MY 2020/21, the latest official forecast published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) estimates a production of 108,303 MT (shelled basis). This preliminary figure denotes an increase close to 8 percent compared to previous year’s crop due to favorable weather conditions during the flowering, lack of significant frosts and above average levels of rain in the winter and the beginning of the spring, in addition to the new production areas with integrated irrigation systems.

    Italy is the second largest EU-28 almond producer after Spain. Sicily and Puglia are the main almond- producing areas, collectively accounting for approximately 88 percent of total supply. Tuono, Pizzuta d’Avola, Fascionello, Filippo Ceo, Fragiulio Grande, Genco, Falsa Barese, Ferragnés are the leading varieties grown in the country. Italy’s marketing year (MY) 2020/21 almond production is forecast to significantly drop from the previous season as reduced volumes in Puglia (due to heavy frosts occurred at the end of March) were not compensated by increased quantities in Sicily. Quality is expected to be excellent in Puglia and good in Sicily.

    Table 1. Major EU Almond Producers by Volume in MT (Shelled Basis)

    Consumption

    Nuts consumption continue to grow, since they are considered a great alternative to healthy snacking. Due to the increasing awareness of healthy lifestyles, nuts are becoming increasingly popular all- around Europe. Nutritionists have included nuts in diets for weight control or the recommended consumption for pregnant women are just examples of benefits, supported scientific studies, which continue to encourage the consumption of nuts, both as snack and as ingredient.

    In addition, almonds represent an important component of the Mediterranean diet. In-shell almonds are mainly sold for fresh consumption. Shelled almonds are milled and generally used as a raw material for confectionary and bakery food companies. New eating habits are also affecting the demand for nuts. The increasing number of plant-based diets is also helping to drive demand for nuts, as consumers look for alternative forms of protein to meat and fish.

    Tree nuts imports are indispensable for EU consumers. Traditionally, consumers prefer locally grown products mainly due to consumer loyalty and habits, but in the EU, consumption of nuts is higher than production; this has caused an increase in both domestic production and in imports of nuts.

    Trade

    Imports

    In MY 2018/19, the United States was the main almond supplier for European importers. U.S. almonds face competition from Australia and locally grown almonds, mainly from Spain.

    By volume, the main EU destinations for U.S. almonds were Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands. Many countries import large quantities of almonds destined both for domestic consumption and re- export markets, as well as for the food and snack industry.

    Table 2. EU-28 Imports of Almonds by Origin in MT (Shelled Basis) 

    Exports

    The top destinations for EU-28 almonds in MY 2018/19 were the United States, the autonomous city of Ceuta and Switzerland. The largest EU almond exporter is Spain with Spanish exports destined mainly for other EU Member States.

    Table 3. EU-28 Exports of Almonds by Destination in MT (Shelled Basis)

    Walnuts, In-shell Basis

    Production

    The two main producing areas in France are:

    -Aquitaine in the South West (including “noix du Perigord” AOC)

    -Rhone-Alpes in the East (including “noix de Grenoble” AOC)

    In 2019, French walnut production decreased especially in the Grenoble area (with a drop of 35 percent). The sharp drop was the combined result of drought conditions in the summer, strong winds that caused fruits to fall prior to harvest, and heavy snow falls that broke many nut-bearing trees right before harvest. In the South West, the crop was slightly better than average. In 2020, total French production is expected to increase compared to last year. In South Eastern France (Rhone-Alpes), 2020 production is expected to increase slightly after the losses in 2019. In the South West, production is expected to be below average because of the drought and hot temperatures during the summer.

    Meanwhile, Romania’s estimated production for 2020 is lower that the last two years due to unfavorable rainfall.

    In Spain, the main walnut growing regions are Andalucia, Extremadura, Castilla-La Mancha, and the Valencia region. As of the date of this report, the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA) has not yet published the official walnut production data for MY2020/21. If weather conditions remain favorable, Post expects a slightly higher production of 15,500 MT for the current MY. Read the rest of the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Report HERE.

  • US Increases Market Share of Stone Fruit Exports in Taiwan

    In 2019, U.S. peach, nectarine, and cherry exports to Taiwan increased as competitor market share declined. Taiwan’s peach and nectarine production is forecast to increase from 16,171 metric tons (MT) in 2019 to 19,000 MT in 2020 due to improved bearing. Taiwan’s robust handling of COVID-19 has led to a modest recovery in domestic consumption, which has allowed consumption to remain strong and imports to remain stable. In 2020, total Taiwan peach and nectarine imports are forecast to increase nominally to 15,000 MT and imports of cherries are forecast up at 12,000 MT.

    Read the full report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service HERE.

  • CA Almonds: Global Shipments & Trends

    Almond Board of the California — As California almond growers consistently produce yields at record or near-record levels year after year, it is important that those nuts find a home. Increasingly, that means expanding existing export markets and continuing to grow demand in those regions, while always keeping an eye on new opportunities globally.

    In the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has presented a temporary challenge in moving nuts from California ports to export markets, a challenge coupled by situations like China’s continued tariffs. Still, the Almond Board of California (ABC) continues to strongly support the California almond industry through key marketing initiatives, education and negotiation with foreign trade officials, and frequent discussions with regulators in the U.S. and abroad.

    Take a deeper dive into how last year’s crop performed in terms of global shipments and hear from ABC program leads on market and trade trends, as well as ways that Almond Board staff are continuing to grow demand and support trade worldwide.

    Production: 2.55 Billion Pounds

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has a challenging task in forecasting California almond production. Each July, USDA-NASS releases the Objective Measurement Report, which is based on samples of orchards gathered from throughout the state and measuring/weighing of kernels in order to estimate that year’s production. The production forecast reflects a range, which USDA-NASS has been within nine points of in the last 13 years. However, the 2018 report was narrowly outside the range and the 2019 report missed the mark by quite a bit.

    To address this issue, in the fall of 2019 ABC convened an Almond Forecasting Task Force made up of industry members, USDA-NASS officials and ABC staff to review almond forecasting procedures and identify potential changes to sampling methodologies to improve future crop estimates. To help USDA-NASS refine its production estimates, the task force recommended leveraging almond acreage information from Land IQ, a Sacramento-based agricultural and environmental scientific research and consulting firm that developed and maintains a comprehensive living map of California almonds. Implementing that and other changes, USDA-NASS has improved its data collection process, and hopes remain high that future Objective Reports will be closer to actual crop yields.

    Total Shipments: Domestic and Export

    This past year, the industry saw nearly parallel growth between domestic shipments (which grew 4.5%) and exports (which grew 5.0%). This growth comes despite the current challenging trade environment. The California almond industry’s investment in nutrition research and global market development has helped lay a strong foundation for demand around the world that has helped the almond community navigate through tougher times.

    And the work continues. In the past year, the Almond Board expanded its areas of nutrition research with its first study in the area of beauty. To ensure consumers are keeping almonds top of mind, the Almond Board is also continuing its efforts to build demand through consumer marketing programs in 11 countries, from India and Japan to the U.S. and Mexico. The past year’s programs included launching new advertising campaigns in multiple markets, including in the United Kingdom and India to continue building demand globally for California almonds.

    “One of the things that I first noticed when I joined the Almond Board four years ago was the passion and pride staff have in helping grow this industry,” said Vice President of Global Market Development Emily Fleischmann, “and that fire continues. It’s what has helped our teams launch innovative new campaigns like ‘Do You Almond’ in the UK this past year and what helps almonds remain the number one nut in new product introductions for 10 years running.”

    Fleischmann said ABC’s marketing staff will continue to create additional ways to spread the nutritional and health message associated with almonds.

    “Our teams keep pushing harder to make our programs stronger year over year,” she said. “In the year ahead, stay tuned for more on our U.S. partnership with Olympian Kerri Walsh Jennings as she works toward the Tokyo Olympics, as well as a brand new campaign in France and our first digital program in India.”

    Export Shipments: Top 10 Destinations

    Global trade tensions with China have changed the landscape of priority markets.

    “Five years ago, China was our second-largest export destination. It stayed as the third-largest market for several years, surpassed only by the strong growth of the Indian market,” said Julie Adams, vice president of Global Technical and Regulatory Affairs for the Almond Board.

    With an increasing middle class and economic growth, China was on track to expand, and ABC’s marketing investments helped spur that growth. But retaliatory tariffs implemented two years ago changed that momentum.

    “Starting in April 2018, we saw the impact of the trade war, which took almonds from a 10% tariff to the current 55% tariff,” Adams said. “Over the last two years, shipments to China/Hong Kong dropped 25% in crop year 2018-19 and another 23% in crop year 2019-20, with Australia benefiting.”

    The situation has resulted in China dropping to fourth in the line of U.S. export destinations. Taking a long-term view, however, China still is key to building demand for expanded crop production.

    “Many of the trade issues we face in our markets – from import controls to food safety standards or pesticide MRLs – take a long time to resolve,” Adams explained. “It is essential that we build good relationships with trade and regulatory authorities in these markets so we can engage quickly to find a solution that will allow almonds to continue to flow freely into consumer channels.”

    ABC is widely respected by authorities worldwide for being proactive in understanding market needs and its ability to provide technical, fact-based information across a wide range of issues.

    Export Shipments: Regional Breakdown

    Global appeal among customers and consumers worldwide is clearly reflected in the almond industry’s regional shipments. Being well diversified helps counteract trade disruptions that can unexpectedly come up in one market or another.

    “There are so many growth opportunities around the globe,” Adams said. “For years, the Middle East and Africa were a small share of exports, but now they represent almost 20%.”

    While acknowledging the many challenges facing California almonds, Adams also believes “the opportunities are limitless.”

    Export Shipments: Product Type

    India remains the number one export market for U.S. almonds and the largest importer of in-shell almonds. Historically, India and China have been the primary destination for in-shell markets, but given the recent trade situation with China, India has absorbed much of those shipments.

    U.S. Agricultural Exports by Value

    Value Breakdown:

    • European Union (EU-27 + UK): Almonds are the number two export, at $1.8 billion, behind soybeans at $1.95 billion.
    • India: Almonds are the number one ag export at $732 million, accounting for 40% of all U.S. ag exports to India.
    • China and Hong Kong: Almonds are the second-largest tree nut export at $374 million and the seventh-largest ag product, overall.
    • Japan: Almonds are the ninth-largest ag export.
    • United Arab Emirates: Almonds are the number one ag export and account for around 23% of total U.S. ag exports.
    • South Korea: Almonds are the ninth-largest ag export.
    • Mexico: Tree nuts are a small-sector category for exports to Mexico at $342 million total and $99 million for almonds.

    Do you want to learn more about ABC’s global marketing and trade and regulatory work in countries across the world? Mark your calendar for Dec. 8-10 to attend The Almond Conference 2020. Held virtually for the first time this year, this ABC-hosted event will allow maximum global participation while offering the same quality information and engagement as past conferences. Learn more at almondconference.com.

  • North Coast Wine Harvest Underway (Initial Reports)

    The 2020 North Coast wine grape harvest is underway throughout the region, with sparkling wine varieties leading the way to the presses. 2020’s growing season bodes well for a landmark harvest. Following weeks of steady daytime heat and cool evenings, grapes are ripening evenly, with harvest starting about 10 days earlier than it did in 2019, a relatively cooler, wetter year.

    Sonoma County

    In Sonoma County, the earliest grapes harvested were picked on Monday night, August 3rd in Dry Creek Valley.  Dutcher Crossing Winery’s team picked 4.4 tons of Chardonnay to be used in their estate sparkling wine, a tradition started in 2016. “The team was super excited to get the 2020 vintage started, and what better way to celebrate the harvest season than with Chardonnay for our sparkling wine,” said Nick Briggs, Dutcher Crossing’s Winemaker. “While we were earlier this year by over a week due to light crop load yields, the quality is exceptional!”

    Lower crop yields this season are a theme echoed by winegrowers around Sonoma County. While there were some reports of “shatter” associated with April frost, the main cause for lower yields is related to the cyclical nature of the vines, which have experienced several above-average vintages, including the largest on record in 2018. Many growers call this phenomenon of lower grape yields following several larger vintages “right-sizing.”

    Among other reports of grape harvesting in Sonoma County, MacMurray Ranch in Russian River Valley, picked 20 tons of Pinot Noir for the J Vineyards brand on August 5th. Sasaki Vineyards in Schellville, one of the earliest to pick last year, brought in around 20 tons of Pinot Noir for the Gloria Ferrer sparkling wines early morning, August 6th. The Sasakis have been growing Pinot Noir for Gloria Ferrer for 19 years.

    In Sonoma Valley, vintners, growers and members of the community have gathered in recent years at the Mission San Francisco Solano on the Sonoma Plaza to officially ring the harvest bell to signal the beginning of the harvest season in Sonoma Valley. This year, in observance of social distancing, Sonoma Valley Vintners and Growers Association has asked winegrowers, winery staff and locals to celebrate the beginning of harvest by creating their own “harvest bells” videos and post them to social media using the hashtag #SonomaValleyHarvest.

    “Harvest is the most exciting time of year for the thousands here in Sonoma County who are connected to wine and ag. After months of care and anticipation, the wait is over and the action is picking up in vineyards and wineries,” said Karissa Kruse, president of Sonoma County Winegrowers.  She added, “Reports from winegrowers indicate a well-balanced and quality crop, with even ripening through veraison. As always we are looking forward to getting our fruit off the vine, and enjoying the 2020 vintage.”

    Napa Valley

    The 2020 Napa Valley growing season kicked off with mild spring weather, and in June, the conditions were perfect for uniform fruit set. From June to early August, temperatures were steady and warm, little to no heat spikes, creating ideal conditions for the final stretch. Veraison has continued over an extended period, allowing for balanced fruit development. Weather permitting, growers plan for a steady harvest going into October when thicker-skin grapes like cabernet sauvignon will be picked.

    “Amidst the chaos of the pandemic, the grapes continue to ripen, and grape growers feel the continuity of harvest. It has been a superb growing season with moderate weather; Napa Valley is fortunate, we continue to have beautiful fruit, ready for harvest, time and time again,” said Kendall Hoxsey-Onysko, Business Manager for Yount Mill Vineyards and Napa Wine Company, whose first pick is this coming Saturday, August 8, from her Block House Vineyard in Yountville, “COVID-19 protection is top-of-mind though, and we are committed to enforcing best practice protocols to ensure all employees in the vineyard and winery are safe while harvest is underway.”

    “We’re gearing up to pick white fruit varieties in the next three weeks, with viognier and sauvignon blanc coming in first. Until then, we’re diligently learning best practices for COVID-19 prevention, and readying for a safe harvest in the workplace, all while keeping a close eye on the grapes still on the vine,” noted Courtney Shifflett, NVG member and viticulturist for Duckhorn Wine Company.

    At the start of harvest, many in the Napa Valley grape growing community gather at various vineyards for the blessing of the grapes, a longstanding tradition dating back to agrarian times, that gives thanks for the bountiful crop. Although ceremonies will look much smaller this year, the Napa Valley community has much to be thankful for with the 2020 harvest, as it reflects the perseverance of Mother Nature through chaotic times.