The Board of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association has selected Larry Williams to honor with their 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award. The award will be presented this year at Malcolm Media’s Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 8th at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds.
Williams is well-recognized by the grape industry for his remarkable work in irrigation and fertilizer management as a Professor and Plant Physiologist in the Department of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. Stationed at the Kearney Ag Research & Extension Center in the Central Valley – the nation’s epicenter of raisin, wine and table grape production, Williams helped growers determine nitrogen and potassium needs for all grape types and application timing. His research guided wine grape growers refine deficit irrigation practices for improved wine quality and helped raisin and table grape growers understand water needs to maximize berry size and production.
“Professor Williams is best known for developing irrigation models for raisin, table and wine grapes. His pioneering work in the field has been verified and accepted around the world and underpinned ongoing technological developments that are making it easier than ever for growers to save water while optimizing yield and quality,” shared Dr. Matthew Fidelibus, UC Davis, San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association Viticultural Advisor. Over the course of his 36-year career, Williams has published over a hundred papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, co-authored several books, and delivered hundreds of talks on these subjects, proving a valuable asset to both viticultural research and extension.
Williams retired in June 2018, but his work continues to bear much fruit. “Growing grapes is difficult enough, but thanks to Professor Williams, we have been able to increase our quality and consistency with better technology,” commented Aarin Wilson, President of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association.
“Larry Williams has played an oversized role in educating growers around the Valley (and world), and the Association is very proud to add his name to the august group of recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award,” shared Peter Vallis, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association.
Previous recipients of this award include: Kent Daane & Nat DiBuduo (2023), Deborah Golino & Andy Walker (2022), Jim Unti (2021), John Monnich (2020), Ron Brase (2019), Robert Markarian (2018), Walt Bentley, Doug Gubler & Ken Yonan (2016), Frank Saviez & Don Stanley (2015), Jim Duarte & George Leavitt (2014), Jack Farrior & Marko Zaninovich (2013), Pete Christensen, Ron Metzler & Gary Wilson (2012), Paul Dismukes & Luther Khachigian (2011), Frank Logoluso, Bob Loquaci & Frank Pantaleo (2010), Bob McInturf, Mike Nury & Vince Petrucci (2009), and Angelo Papagni (2007).
Advertisement
Vallis will be presenting this special award to Larry Williams at 12:30 p.m. in the Industrial Education Building at the Big Fresno Fairgrounds during the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo on November 8th. The Expo runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is FREE to attend. The presentation will be accompanied with a Tri-Tip BBQ lunch and morning grower seminars offer continuing education credits, so growers and friends are welcome to arrive early and enjoy the full event. Learn more and Pre-register to attend at https://agexpo.biz/.
About the Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo
Fresno is the number one ag county in the state and the annual Grape, Nut & Tree Fruit Expo is held in the center of the Central Valley’s rich and diverse agricultural production. Since 1996, this event has become a tradition for nearly 1,000 grape, nut and tree fruit growers to attend. This year, the expo will be featuring PCA & CCA Credits, Free Breakfast & Tri-Tip Lunch, Industry Trade Show, State of the Raisin, Table Grape, Wine, Almond, Walnut, Pistachio & Tree Fruit Industry presentations and seminars on: New Carpophilus Beetle & Red Leaf Blotch Threat in Tree Nuts, Cutting Raisin Production Costs, Micronutrient Management, Crop Insurance Improvements for Grape Growers, On-Farm Wildlife Management, Laws & Regulations, and Tree & Vine IPM. Also, new this year will be a partnership with San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association in the presentation of their Annual Lifetime Achievement Award taking place after lunch. Register to attend FREE today at AgExpo.biz.
About the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association
Amidst the nadir of the grape prices in 2000-2001, a group of Valley grape industry leaders came together to build an organization, for the first time, to represent the interests of the San Joaquin Valley wine grape grower. Since this time, the San Joaquin Valley Winegrowers Association has become the nexus and voice for the interior regions of the California Wine Industry. Through organizing grower education, strategic, wine and grape producer-specific advocacy, and increasingly a tilt towards regional marketing and promotion, the SJVWA offers a distinct program for growers in the Central Valley while supporting the efforts of other state-wide agricultural industry groups. Learn more at idrinkwine.net.