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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Winegrape Commission is graduating its second class of Master Vigneron Academy participants, a select group of supervisors and foremen from Lake County vineyards.
Seven individuals completed this year’s courses and will be honored at a graduation ceremony Feb. 4, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport.
The academy graduates for 2013 are Moises Aguilar and Francisco Duarte, Beckstoffer Vineyards, Red Hills; Octavio and Adolfo Calvillo, Rogers Vineyards; Jason Webb, Stonehouse Cellars; Juan Ramirez Arroyo, Robinson Lake Vineyards; and Jose Garcia, JAC, Lake County.
Vineyard owners interested in enrolling their supervisors and foremen in the 2014 Master Vigneron class are invited to attend the graduation event.
Graduation festivities will include information about the academy, a ceremony to honor the graduates and a buffet lunch. Graduates will receive a Master Vigneron certificate along with a Master Vigneron-branded cowboy hat and pruner holster.
Advanced registration for attendance is required. Call the commission office at 707-279-2633.
The first of its kind in the state, the Master Vigneron Academy was launched in 2012 by the commission and is a year-long series of training sessions intended to “build capacity and effectiveness” of vineyard workers.
Designed for Spanish-speaking vineyard supervisors working in Lake County, the academy educates mid-level vineyard supervisors about their roles and responsibilities in implementing quality winegrowing practices and farm worker productivity.
The sessions provide a broad view of the industry with an introduction to the roles of the nursery and winery, aspects of business and finance, and current concepts of personnel management.
Key topics include vineyard development, canopy management, economics, personnel management and wine quality.
Students learn about tools to strengthen their knowledge of viticulture and the wine industry and visit several sites including wineries, U.C. Davis, Foundation Plant Services, nurseries, as well as vineyards throughout the North Coast.
According to Lake County Winegrape Commission Education Coordinator Paul Zellman, the commission’s goal with its Master Vigneron Academy is two-fold: production of high-quality winegrapes and professional development of extraordinary vineyard supervisors.
The anticipated result is higher quality outputs in the vineyard with more efficient and skilled employees.
The commission’s education committee chairman, Randy Krag of Beckstoffer Vineyards, is credited with the concept of the Master Vigneron Academy. Zellman coordinates the program on behalf of the Commission.
Master Vigneron Academy participants meet monthly January through August with a break for the harvest months of September and October before concluding with a meeting in November.
“Better-trained supervisors will have greater confidence and develop into more valued managers,” Zellman said. “It is hoped that employers will recognize this, leading to enhanced advancement opportunities in the vineyard and wine community.”
The Master Vigneron Academy Class of 2014 will travel to the Unified Wine & Grape Symposium in Sacramento to participate in Spanish-language sessions and take a guided tour of the trade show. Transportation and lunch are provided.
The Lake County Winegrape Commission is a marketing order established in 1991 to promote the region’s premium winegrapes and to assist winegrape growers.
For further information about the Master Vigneron Academy, call the commission office at 707-279-2633 or visit www.lakecountywinegrape.org .
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DAVIS, Calif. – Assemblymember Mariko Yamada (D-Davis), Chair of the Assembly Select Committee on Sustainable and Organic Agriculture, will hold an informational hearing entitled, “Agritourism in California: Opportunities and Challenges of Becoming a Destination.”
The hearing will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23, at UC Davis in King Hall, Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom- Room 1001.
“As more Californians become interested in locally sourced food, the desire for more interaction with growers and farmers also increases,” stated Assemblymember Yamada. “Farmers are responding by seeking new and innovative ways to include attractions like corn mazes, pumpkin patches and wine tasting, but legal issues surrounding these activities remain.”
Agritourism is defined as any commercial enterprise on a working farm or ranch created for the enjoyment or education of visitors and generates supplemental income for the owner.
Activities may include farm stands or shops, fairs, festivals, winery weddings, youth camps, hunting or fishing, and more.
The hearing will explore the obstacles encountered in establishing agritourism destinations and explore opportunities for state and local governments to assist farmers considering an agritourism operation.
Panelists include leaders of the University of California Small Farm Program; Solano/Yolo Farmbudsman Michelle Stephens; and farmers who have added agritourism elements to their farms.
Members of the public are welcome to attend.
For more information on the hearing, please contact 916-319-2004.
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After enjoying substantial price decreases, Californian motorists are starting to see a slight upward movement at the gas pumps.
State gas prices are now $0.05 cents more than a month ago, according to the AAA Northern California monthly gas survey.
Northern California’s average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.64, that’s $0.05 cents higher since last month’s AAA report on December 10, 2013.
For perspective, gas prices today are $0.02 more than California’s average price on this date last year.
“Although California state prices are up by $0.05 cents from a month ago, motorists today are paying $0.03 cents less than a week ago,” said Cynthia Harris, AAA Northern California spokesperson. “Typically in January there is a weak demand for gasoline, and the fact that supplies of crude are ample, we will probably not see any major spike in prices at the present time.”
The national average price is $3.31. This is same as Monday and a week ago but $0.05 higher than last month’s report on Dec. 10, and $0.01 higher than a year ago. The national average price has stayed within a tight range this past month.
After reaching a more than two-month high of $3.33 on Jan. 3, the national average price dropped for nine of 11 days. Although the price fell, the decrease was less than $0.02 during this time.
Midwestern states, bearing the brunt of extreme winter storms, have seen dramatic increases in their average prices this past week with some increases over $0.20 per gallon.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil settled above the $100 per barrel mark one day, Dec. 27, ending a streak of nine consecutive weeks below the three digit threshold. WTI prices have dropped back toward the $90 per barrel threshold.
The sharp decline in prices has been attributed to a stronger U.S. dollar, the return of Libyan crude to the global market, further easing of geopolitical tensions with Iran, and continued concerns surrounding weak domestic demand for gasoline.
The decline continued Monday as WTI prices settled 92 cents lower at $91.80 per barrel at the close of formal trading of the NYMEX. This mark is just $0.14 higher than the settlement recorded last Thursday, which was the lowest price since May 1.
The least expensive average price in Northern California can be found in Marysville, where regular unleaded gasoline is $3.49 per gallon.
Of all the metro areas in Northern California, where gas prices are tracked by AAA, Eureka has the highest average price at $3.78.
Hawaii reports the highest average price in the country, $4.02, and is the only state with an average price over $4.
Connecticut has the highest price, $3.69, in the contiguous states. Missouri and Montana have the lowest average price, $3.02. No states report an average price under the $3 mark.
To get the best mileage possible, AAA recommends keeping tires at the proper pressure suggested by the vehicle manufacturer, performing routine maintenance and making sure fluids are clean and belts and hoses are in good repair.
The way you drive also can impact fuel economy. Smooth driving to avoid sudden stops and starts, combining trips and lightening your load also helps conserve gasoline.
AAA’s Fuel Gauge Report is the most comprehensive retail gasoline survey available, with over 100,000 self-serve stations surveyed every day, nationwide. Data is provided in cooperation with OPIS Energy Group and Wright Express LLC.
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- Written by: John Jensen
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The Northshore Business Association will hold a breakfast meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 15.
The group will meet for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Judy's Junction, 375 Highway 20 in Upper Lake. The meeting starts at 7:30 a.m.
The speaker will be District 3 supervisorial candidate Marv Butler.
Butler, who lives in Clearlake Oaks, has been in business locally for many years. Before that, he worked in banking.
Attendees will have a chance to hear Butler's position on local issues. His Web site is http://marvbutler.com/ .
For more information about the group visit http://www.northshorebusinessassociation.com/ .
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