Renew America’s National Awards Council for Environmental Sustainability recognized the Central Coast Vineyard Team (CCVT) for its commitment to environmental sustainability. CCVT was one of four finalists in a competitive national search for sustainable organizations. CCVT will be placed in the Environmental Success Index (www.crest.org/renew_america) which chronicles more than 1,400 effective environmental programs nationwide that measurably protect, restore or enhance the environment. Programs in the Index meet tough standards for program effectiveness, natural resource conservation, economic progress and human development.

Jenny Broome, SAREP associate director and researcher of alternative disease management strategies, has worked with the Team from its inception.

“I feel privileged to be a part of this grower-led initiative for increasing the long-term sustainability of grape growing on the Central Coast,” she said. “The Team takes very seriously the role growers can play in being stewards and protectors of the human and natural resources in a community.”

CCVT represents a broad-based community partnership of winegrape growers, wineries, consultants, farm advisors, environmental interests, and government representatives whose mission is to promote environmentally sustainable vineyard practices on the Central Coast. Team members are involved with more than 30,000 acres in the three-county region and have been collaborating on several outreach and education projects for more than three years.

Most notable, CCVT developed the Positive Points System (PPS)—a method for evaluating the extent of sustainable farm practices used in vineyards. This protocol was developed to both educate and guide growers toward more sustainable practices. Over the last three years, more than 50 growers have participated in the evaluations and more than 10,000 acres have been specifically evaluated using the PPS. Each year, participation in the PPS and the Team’s activities has increased. In addition, CCVT uses a “grower-to-grower” approach to highlight specific sustainable practices through field meetings, grower testimonials, and demonstrations at template farms.

For more information about CCVT and its Positive Points System, call (805) 462-9431 or visit its Web site at http://www.vineyardteam.org.