Special Seminar: Lessons Learned from the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing

June 5, 2014


Please join us for a presentation by Matthew Hoffman, Grower Program Coordinator for the Lodi Winegrape Commission, about the Lodi grape industry's experience with their sustainability certification program, The Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing. This program was the first sustainability certification program developed for grape growing in the United States, and has served as a model for a number of other programs that have developed since then, including the VineBalance program here in New York. Dr. Hoffman will talk about some of the pros and cons of creating a third party certification program like the Lodi Rules, and what kinds of impacts the program has had for the industry out there. This information can be valuable background as the Finger Lakes industry considers whether or not to develop a similar program for itself. His presentation will be followed by some time for questions and open discussion.

There is no cost to attend the seminar, but we ask that everybody register ahead of time so we know how many people to plan for. To register, please visit the 'Events' page on our website, http://flgp.cce.cornell.edu/events.php or call our office at 315-536-5134.

Matthew Hoffman is the Grower Program Coordinator at the Lodi Winegrape Commission, where he manages the Commission's viticulture research projects, grower outreach programs, and the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing certification program. Established in 2005, the Lodi Rules is California's original sustainable winegrowing certification program and has inspired the development and design of several newer certification programs in California and New York. Matthew came to the Commission in 2012. His Ph.D. research focused on the effectiveness of agricultural extension programs and sustainability certification programs in California. In his capacity at the Commission we works alongside a committee of Lodi growers to evolve the Lodi Rules program so it meets the changing needs of Lodiâ??s growing viticulture and wine industry.

Dr. Hoffman's visit to the Finger Lakes is supported by the New York State Winegrape Growers. We also want to thank the members of the Long Island Sustainable Winegrowing program for inviting Dr. Hoffman to New York and supporting his visit here as well.