CDFA Secretary Karen Ross speaking at the EGVM eradication event at Robert Mondavi Winery. To her left are Keith Horn with Constellation Wines US and USDA Deputy Under Secretary Elvis Cordova.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross gathered with grape growers, winemakers, stakeholders and colleagues from federal and county agencies on Friday, Oct. 21 to mark a mutual achievement: eradication of the European grapevine moth (EGVM).
“The growers and their communities where this pest carved out its foothold deserve the lion’s share of the credit for eradicating the European grapevine moth,” Secretary Ross observed. “They formed and sustained the cooperative effort with our agencies that ultimately achieved this goal. We are gathering to celebrate this mutual achievement, but perhaps more importantly we are here to say how proud we are of the partnership that got us here – a partnership that remains ready to respond to the next threat to venture into our vineyards.”
Secretary Ross and others acknowledged the groundwork laid by other cooperative efforts, particularly the exemplary, ongoing work by growers and agricultural officials to control and ultimately find solutions for the grapevine pest the glassy-winged sharpshooter and Pierce’s disease. She commended growers, including the event hosts at Robert Mondavi Winery, for their sustained support in making these projects successful.
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross congratulates Bob Wynn, Senior Advisor and Statewide Coordinator of the Pierce’s Disease Control Program (right), and John Hooper with CDFA’s Pest Detection/Emergency Projects office (left).
CDFA Secretary Karen Ross (center) with current and former County Agricultural Commissioners whose work was vital to the eradication effort. From left: Humberto Izquierdo (Alameda), Dave Whitmer (Napa, retired), Eric Lauritzen (Monterey), Greg Clark (Napa), Tony Linegar (Sonoma), and Jim Allan (Solano).
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