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SAN FRANCISCO — California is the country’s top agricultural producer and in October the state’s wine and winegrape growing community honors the farmers and farmworkers who nurture and harvest more than 400 crops – ranging from fruits, vegetables and nuts to more than 100 winegrape varieties.
“California Farmer and Farmworker Month is an important opportunity to recognize all those who work incredibly hard to bring the Golden State’s world class wine and agricultural products into the homes and communities across the state, the nation and the world,” said Robert P. Koch, president and CEO, Wine Institute.
California’s wine and winegrape industries are critical economic drivers for many communities and regions throughout our state, employing 325,000 Californians, paying $17.2 billion in wages annually and generating more than $57 billion in annual economic activity for the state of California.
The diversity of California’s vast growing regions, skill and experience of its growers and their commitment to sustainable winegrowing will ensure that California wine will continue to be a signature agricultural industry for the state into the future.
“California’s winegrape growers are proud to be an integral part of California’s farmer and farmworker community, dedicated to producing and harvesting quality goods through sound environmental practices and social responsibility,” said John Aguirre, president, California Association of Winegrape Growers (CAWG).
California’s winegrowers have a long history of embracing sustainable winegrowing practices through various programs such as the California Sustainable Winegrowing Program, Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) and other regional educational and certification programs, with more than 2,200 vineyards in California that are CCSW.
California’s Wine and Winegrape Growing Community
As the nation’s top wine producer, California makes up more than 80% of U.S. wine production and is the fourth-largest wine producer in the world. California is home to 620,000 acres of winegrapes, grown by more than 5,900 winegrape growers, with winegrapes grown in 49 of the state’s 58 counties.
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