Guide For Sustainable Winegrowing

By Growing Produce Staff|April 1, 2009

Are you interested in an integrated systems approach to risk management that offers protection for your winegrapes? If so, you may want to pick up a copy of Reducing Risks through Sustainable Winegrowing: A Grower’s Guide.

Published by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) and funded by USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the guide recommends key practices from the California Code of Sustainable Winegrowing Practices Workbook and other sources that can reduce crops’ exposure to various risks. The risks covered in the guide include water scarcity, impaired water quality, decreased soil quality, diminished air quality and climate change, increased labor costs, rising energy costs, pest outbreaks, inclement weather, and unexpected market challenges.

The workbook presents best practices from sources including industry, academic, and government experts to address a wide range of issues including water conservation and efficiency, water quality protection, soil conservation and management, air quality protection, human resource management, energy conservation and efficiency, integrated pest management, weather monitoring and preventive planning, selection of appropriate insurance policies and tools, and proactive business planning and management.

CSWA’s Sustainable Winegrowing Program is a statewide initiative that encourages and enables winegrape growers to adopt the highest standards of sustainable practices.

The guide is available online at www.sustainablewinegrowing.org/agrowersguide.php.