California Ag Network

Tag: Nat DiBuduo

  • Inaugural Whole Vine Festival to be Dedicated to Nat DiBuduo

    As grape growers and consumers prepare to come together and celebrate the San Joaquin Valley grape industry, Saturday, October 21 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Sunday, October 22 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at the Whole Vine Festival on the Fresno State Campus, festival organizers are pleased to announce that the inaugural Whole Vine Festival will be dedicated to longtime grape industry leader and advocate Nat DiBuduo.

    DiBuduo has worked in the grape industry since his youth, growing up on his family’s table grape farm in the San Joaquin Valley.  He graduated with a Plant Science degree from Fresno State, focusing on viticulture.  Over the years, DiBuduo has carried many roles and served on various Boards, supporting agricultural and community. Chief among them was his 18 years of service as President of Allied Grape Growers. Representing about 250,000 tons of the California grape crush, DiBuduo did his best to ensure that their grower membership’s grapes found a good home with sustainable returns from year to year.  Even in retirement, DiBuduo continues his lifelong involvement in San Joaquin Valley agriculture, and currently works as a Real Estate Agent at Alliance Ag Services.

    “We are thrilled to honor Nat DiBuduo for his vision to see this festival in his mind’s eye and then engage in the foundational work to build it,” shared Whole Vine Festival President Vickie Goudreau.  “Without Nat’s vast experience and deeply rooted relationships, the festival would lack authenticity and credibility. Nat helped steer the course in those formative years. This festival is a testament to Nat DiBuduo’s love for the vineyard and for the people who tend it.”

    Matthew Malcolm, Whole Vine Festival Board Member and Editor-in-Chief of American Vineyard Magazine, added, “I’m one of many that have had the privilege of working with Nat DiBuduo over the years.  He is a gentleman and makes friends wherever he goes.  The California grape industry and the Whole Vine Festival have been blessed by his kind and deep-rooted influence.”

    DiBuduo will be honored at the Opening Ceremony, Day 1 of the Whole Vine Festival at 10:00 a.m. at Fresno State near the Science II Buildings on Saturday, October 21.  All are invited to attend this momentous occasion. “Please join us in honoring Nat DiBuduo at the Whole Vine Festival for his lifetime of dedicated service to the grape industry and the San Joaquin Valley,” Goudreau expressed. For more details on this free event, visit https://www.thewholevine.com.

    About the Whole Vine Festival

    The mission of the Whole Vine Festival is to bring the community together in celebration of all things related to table grapes, raisins, and wine produced in the San Joaquin Valley, as well as to raise the worth of the Valley in the hearts and minds of its people. The inaugural festival will take place Saturday, October 21 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and Sunday, October 22 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) at the Fresno State Campus.  A festive opportunity for families and individuals of all ages, attendees can enjoy grapes in all forms, a kids fun and educational area, live music, and local food vendors with grape-inspired cuisine.  Admission and parking are free.  Visit www.thewholevine.com to learn more and get involved.

  • Nisei Farmers League Celebrates 50 Years, Honors 5 Growers

    It’s a golden year for the Nisei Farmers League, and its members recently enjoyed their 50 year anniversary celebration.  The celebratory dinner in Fresno featured this special video presentation that included reflections from some of the league’s membership on 50 years, as well as interviews with its Agriculturalist of the Year honorees.  Watch this special video, featuring the five Central Valley grape growers that were recognized during this milestone meeting, and read more about it in the coming issue of American Vineyard Magazine.
     
    Please thank this video’s sponsor Suterra for their industry support.

  • CA Wine Market Trends & Thompson Green Price with Allied Grape Growers

    Allied Grape Growers just held their 67th Annual Meetings in the Central Valley and North Coast, celebrated their success with Nat DiBuduo as President for the last 18 years, and welcomed Jeff Bitter stepping up as the new President & CEO of Allied. Watch this brief video with Jeff who shared the new leadership structure of Allied, discussed the current state of the wine grape industry & revealed the green price for Thompsons this year. Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

    Enjoy our Ag video news?  Be sure to let our sponsor Duarte Nursery know & thank them for their industry support!

  • 2018 CA Wine Grape Crop & Market Update with Nat DiBuduo

    Special Thanks to This Video’s Sponsor!
    The 2018 California wine grape crop is well underway, and Nat DiBuduo, President of Allied Grape Growers, is predicting an average +4 million ton harvest this year.  Watch this brief video with Nat as he explains more about the progress of the 2018 crop, as well as the current wine market trends the industry is experiencing across the state.  Read more about it in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • Wine Industry Leader Nat Dibuduo to be Honored

    Fresno, Calif., (March 28, 2018) – Nat DiBuduo will be honored at the Outlook 2018 Agribusiness Conference in Visalia tomorrow, March 22, at the Visalia Convention Center, as the Distinguished California Agriculturalist of the Year. The award, recognizing an individual who has contributed in a significant and highly visible way to the betterment of California agriculture, is presented by the California Chapter of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA) annually.

    Nat DiBuduo

    DiBuduo is currently President and CEO of Allied Grape Growers, a marketing association with over 500 members who produce over 250,000 tons annually. Nat has been involved in agriculture all of his life, having worked with his family (Papagni Fruit Company) farming and developing vineyards in Fresno, Madera and Kern Counties through college. Nat and brother, Jerry, formed DiBuduo Farm Management (DLM) in 1978 where Nat stayed until 1984 at which time Jerry expanded and incorporated the company while Nat went on to work as Vice President of Pro Ag, a pioneering fully integrated pest management company. Ownership of DiBuduo Ag Services, an agricultural consulting firm, and employment with Capital Agricultural Property Services, Inc. managing agricultural land throughout California and Arizona, were all part of Nat’s career journey prior to joining Allied Grape Growers in 2000.

    Nat has received numerous recognitions for his work and leadership in agriculture including being named one of the Top 50 Leaders in the California Wine Industry by Wine Business Monthly in both 2016 and 2017, receiving the ‘2014 Profiles in Leadership Award’ by the Agriculture Leadership Foundation, and being recognized by the California Association of Winegrape Growers as CAWG Leader of the Year in 2012, to name a few.

    Nat’s career has always gone hand in hand with his support of the agriculture industry, his community, and his Alma Mater, California State University Fresno, further demonstrating his commitment and dedication to improving and promoting California Agriculture. He was appointed to the CSU Fresno Foundation Board of Governors, was past chair of the CDFA DP/GWSS Board, is a member of Friends of Fresno Fair, and served on the City of Fresno Mayor’s Advisory Committee. Nat is also a graduate of the California Agriculture Leadership Program Class VI and earned the Accredited Farm Manager (AFM) designation with the nationally recognized American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.

    Questions may be directed to the California Chapter, ASFMRA Office at 209-368-3672 or info@calasfmra.com.

    Source: California Chapter ASFMRA, News Release, March 15, 2018

  • Allied Grape Growers Address North Coast Wildfire Situation

    It is devastating to see our friends in the wine industry, neighbors and families losing their homes and in some cases, their lives to these destructive wildfires. Learn about the current status of the situation from both the community and wine industry perspective by watching this video interview with Nat DiBuduo, President of Allied Grape Growers, and what you can do to help in the relief effort. Read more in American Vineyard Magazine.

  • 2016 CA Wine Harvest Report with Nat DiBuduo

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    Nat DiBuduo from Allied Grape Growers gave a great State of the Wine Grape Industry Report at American Vineyard Magazine’s Central Coast Grape Expo. Watch this video for a brief synopsis of his 2016 report, and come and see his latest address at Unified Wine & Grape Symposium this week.