A recent study published in the scientific journal Clinical Infectious Diseases found that a lack of adequate vitamin K levels was associated with poor outcomes in COVID-19 patients. The researchers identified an increased need for vitamin K during a COVID-19 illness and noted that depletion or deficiency of vitamin K can have devastating consequences in the lungs. Vitamin K, a nutrient …

In the face of this year’s challenges, Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) and the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation (FWF) have maintained a steady focus and commitment to supporting the community through challenging times. In 2020, the organizations provided vital information and resources to grape growers, vineyard managers, vineyard workers, and their families. Together, NVG and FWF: Formed a COVID-19 Taskforce to …

Australia’s table grape production is expected to continue to expand in marketing year (MY) 2020/21 and is forecast to reach a record 240,000 metric tons (MT), up 15,000 MT from the revised MY 2019/20 estimate. This higher production is due to increased vine plantings coming into fruiting, and nearly all of this increased production is expected to go for export. …

Wine drinkers across key consumption markets have been turning more often to wine as a beverage during the Covid-19 pandemic, spurred by new ‘lockdown’ occasions and more drinking outside of mealtimes, according to a new report published on October 5th 2020. Wine Consumer Trends in the Covid-19 Era draws on tracking data collected from nationally representative samples of wine drinkers …

This week (week of October 9), we processed final samples for the 2020 Veraison to Harvest season. We are stopping a week earlier than normal for a couple of reasons. First, we received word last week of a 20% reduction in the funds we had budgeted for support – an outcome of state budget challenges related to COVID-19 and its …

With genuine concerns for the loss of life and property during this time of still-burning wildfires, I am also challenged by questions about the economic consequences of these fires for Oregon’s wine industry. With most grapes still in the vineyard, the potential for significant loss of this year’s harvest weighs heavily on vineyard managers throughout the state. The short-run answer, …

COVID-19 is a health crisis in the United States but major industries, like agriculture, chemical manufacturing, oil and gas exploration and production, all need to keep functioning as essential businesses in the midst of the crisis.  The response to COVID-19 has core parallels to major industrial accident response, which involves deploying the right resources for the task.  Every incident, be …

The World’ Best Vineyards just released their 2020 results of top 50 vineyards, recognizing California’s Robert Mondavi Winery as the fifth top vineyard in the world, and North America’s number one vineyard.  Watch the full announcement HERE. As the awards were supposed to debut in Sonoma County this year, but curtailed by COVID-19, there was special recognition given to Sonoma County …

The global pandemic has revealed in new ways how essential farmers and farmworkers are to the food supply chain. With this revelation has also come more widespread understanding of the challenges farmers and ranchers face while scrambling to adopt new workplace safety protocols in the fields and on packing lines, respond to dramatically altered markets, and seek relief funding so …