Posted in Industry News, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, NVG News on Jul 09, 2017
by Esther Mobley
Wake-up time is 4:30 a.m. for Jesus Angel Sanchez Victoria and Cesar Alegria Ruiz. It’s early — but then again, everyone wakes up early at the River Ranch Farmworker Housing Center in St. Helena, where breakfast is served between 3 and 6 a.m.
Before they leave for their vineyard jobs, Ruiz and Victoria grab a sandwich or a burrito from the River Ranch kitchen. When their workday with Corona Vineyard Management ends — often around 4 p.m., depending on how hot it gets — it’s back to River Ranch. They spend their evenings doing laundry, listening to music, playing basketball and, every night, calling their families.
Posted in Industry News, Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation on Jul 08, 2017
by Henry Lutz
A decade ago, Silvia Ortiz was unemployed and desperate for work. But with scant grasp of English and unable to speak it, she remembers having to ask her then 6-year-old son: “How can I tell the winemaker that I am looking for a job?”
Posted in Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation, NVG News on Jul 06, 2017
by Armando Hurtado
I grew up in Saint Helena, raised by two very hardworking Mexican immigrants, and with a strong love for Napa Valley. Despite never having the opportunity themselves, my parents embraced the idea of college and supported my desire to pursue a higher education.
Click here to read the full article on the Napa Valley Register.
Posted in NVG News on Jun 21, 2017
by Henry Lutz
As an extended heat wave roils the state, grape growers in Napa are taking steps to keep vineyard workers cool on the hottest days. Meanwhile, the abrupt surge in temperatures has marked a significant shift in the growth cycle of the vines and their fruit.
Click here to read the full article on the Napa Valley Register.
Posted in Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation on May 04, 2017
by Steve Moulds
If there is one common denominator in the Napa Valley, it is our mutual love and appreciation for this truly unique place in the world.
As growers and farmers, we share a responsibility for the mere 45,000 acres of which we are stewards. We share a sense of place due to a combination of distinct elements. For example, the many soil profiles that allow versatility in varietal selection. Our climate is certainly the envy of many. And when channeled by the geographic features of the hillsides bordering our valley floor, the viticultural benefits are further enhanced.