The future of agriculture takes center stage

Agricultural innovators will be highlighted Nov. 14-15 at the seventh annual Sustainable Ag Expo at the Paso Robles Events Center.

The expo’s closing session will feature representatives of large farming operations that have been leaders in integrating practices that are more environmentally, socially and economically sustainable in the long run.

“We ask the bigger questions about, ‘What does this mean for us and for our families and for our business as a whole?’ ” said Kris Beal, executive director of the Central Coast Vineyard Team in Templeton, which organizes the annual expo.

“Companies are taking a more long-term view in posing these questions,” she added. “People are really starting to view these practices beyond this year’s profit-and-loss statement.”

The panel will include Robert Boller of Jackson Family Wines in Santa Rosa; James DuBois of Reiter Affiliated Companies, a berry grower based in Oxnard; Katie Montano of Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates in Watsonville; and Chad Smith of organic grower Earthbound Farm in San Juan Bautista.

The annual event includes panel discussions and trade show exhibits. Other sessions will discuss water resources and management, laws and regulations, California viticulture, reaching consumers and worker safety.

Residents interested in learning more can attend a free reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 14. Cost for the two-day event ranges from $225 to $325, with a $50 discount for those who register before Thursday.

For more information, call 369-2288 or visit www.sustainableagexpo.org.

Vineyard Team director honored for leadership

Kris Beal was presented a Profiles in Leadership Award from the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation. The presentation was held Thursday at Fresno State University. She was one of three recipients this year.

Honorees are selected, according to the foundation, based on their actions to improve industry, community, business, government, education or the environment.

The Central Coast Vineyard Team has been a national leader in developing measurements to help vineyards improve environmental and worker practices.

It also launched its Sustainability in Practice Certification program in 2008. Beal said about 250,000 cases of wine from 20 brands bear the SIP Certified logo.

Central Coast wineries a focus at Yosemite event

The 30th annual Vintners’ Holiday series in Yosemite National Park will feature a handful of representatives connected with local wineries.

Eight two- and three-day sessions are scheduled between Sunday and Dec. 8. Each session features tastings, seminars and dinners. For details, call 801-559-4903 or see www.YosemitePark.com/Vintners.

The first will include Robin Baggett, a partner in both Courtside Cellars and Tolosa Winery in Edna Valley. He’ll be presenting wines from his newest winery, Alpha Omega in Rutherford, where he is managing partner.

Others to be featured in future sessions include: Brian Talley, owner of Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande; Jason Haas, general manager of Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles; Larry Turley, owner of Turley Wine Cellars in Templeton and St. Helena; and Larry Brooks, winemaker at Tolosa Cellars in Edna Valley.

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