Congressional Delegation Asks for Relief for Winegrape Growers

Congressional Delegation Asks for Relief for Winegrape Growers

Tim Hammerich
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
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When congress passed the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, they determined where assistance was needed by looking at price differences in agricultural products between the months of January and April. This left the winegrape growers on the sidelines because they are typically full paid for their fall harvest by February. Here is John Aguirre, President of the California Association of Winegrape Growers.

Aguirre… “We determined that due to COVID-19, we're likely to suffer at least $437 million in lost revenue. And so we've been communicating that message both to USDA, but also to the California Congressional Delegation.The California Congressional Delegation, I believe it was 27 members, including both senators, sent a letter to USDA outlining the fact that wine grape growers very much are adversely affected and ought to qualify for direct assistance.”

Aguirre is advocating for assistance for his 600 CAWG members. He also talks regularly with his counterparts in Oregon and Washington to try to get their voices heard in D.C.

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