Lodi-woodbridge Winegrape Commission Wins 2006 Governor's Leadership Award

The Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission has won The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award, the State of California's highest and most prestigious environmental honor. The program recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses operating in California that have demonstrated exceptional leadership.

In the awards ceremony, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's message stated, "Tonight's award recipients have demonstrated a tremendous commitment to preserving our natural resources, while also contributing greatly to our economy. The individuals, organizations and businesses being honored have my utmost gratitude for pursuing innovative and effective strategies that protect both our environment and the well-being of our business communities."

"This award is a real honor," said Dr. Cliff Ohmart, Research/IPM Director of the Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission. "Being California's top environmental award, it recognizes years of hard work by all Lodi winegrowers to become the leaders in sustainable winegrowing. Lodi's winegrowers believe that they have an obligation to their families and community, both past and future, to do the right thing and preserve the land to ensure generations to come have the same healthy environment that is available today."

The Lodi-Woodbridge Winegrape Commission (LWWC) was formed in 1991 and promotes the Lodi region as a producer of premium winegrapes and wine. The organization also promotes use of farming practices that are environmentally sound, economically viable, and socially equitable. LWWC represents almost 800 winegrowers farming more than 90,000 acres that produce 20 percent of California's winegrapes. LWWC's program includes grower education and outreach, field implementation with one-on-one assistance, the Lodi Winegrower's Workbook self-assessment, and in 2005, a third-party sustainable winegrowing certification program, "The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing." This program includes California's first sustainable winegrowing standards that have been peer-reviewed by scientists, the academic community, and environmental community. The program is being implemented on a region-wide basis. Fifteen hundred vineyard acres were certified in 2005, and 6,000 acres are enrolled for 2006.

The Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards program is administered by the California Environmental Protection Agency and Resources Agency, in partnership with California's Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, State and Consumer Services Agency, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture. In 2006, the LWWC was one of only three organizations honored for their work in the field of sustainable practices or facilities.