California Winegrape Sector Goes All in To Contain Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter

California’s winegrape industry is putting additional resources behind an urgent effort to keep the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS) from becoming established in Northern California.

The Pierce’s Disease and Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Board at the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has committed $820,000 in emergency funding to support inspections and trapping for at least three years. The response began this spring after grapevines carrying the pest were sold through Costco locations in Northern California.

The pest feeds on grapevines and is a primary vector for Pierce’s disease, a bacterial disease that can kill vines by affecting the tissues that promote water conductivity. In addition to grape, GWSS feeds on more than 300 crops, including a variety of fruits and nuts.

GWSS has been found on customer plants in 22 counties, but may have been carried into as many as 40 counties via about 10,000 plants from a Fresno nursery. More than 3,100 customers who purchased the grapevines have been contacted by officials, over 2,900 plants have been inspected and/or destroyed, and more than 2,700 additional insect traps have been set.

Closely monitoring the situation is vital in protecting crops.

“This effort depends on close coordination among growers and county, state and federal agencies,” said Michelle Pham, response lead with the CDFA Pierce’s Disease Control Program in a news release.

Though the California wine industry generates about $73 billion in economic activity annually and supports over 422,000 jobs within the state, the state’s winegrape growers have struggled through intense economic challenges in recent years. Trey Irwin, PD/GWSS board chair, recognizes the stakes are high and how detrimental to the industry this pest would be if established in Northern California.

“Putting $820,000 from the Board’s limited reserves toward this effort is a major commitment for our industry and shows how seriously we’re taking this threat,” Irwin said in a news release.

This effort is funded through assessments paid by California winegrape growers.

If you suspect you have found glassy-winged sharpshooter, contact your local county ag commissioner’s office.