TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: David Morrison, Interim County Executive Officer
REPORT BY: Leah Doyle-Stevens, Staff Aide - Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing the 2023 Napa Valley Grapegrowers “Grower of the Year”
RECOMMENDATION
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Presentation of a Proclamation recognizing Garrett Buckland as the 2023 Napa Valley Grapegrowers “Grower of the Year”.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Each year the Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) presents the Grower of the Year Award to a vineyard owner or manager who exemplifies leadership and innovation, a strong commitment to sustainable practices, recognized leadership in agricultural preservation, dedicated community focus and contributions to the Napa Valley community, and someone who actively promotes Napa’s reputation for the highest quality vineyards; the 2023 honoree is Viticultural Consultant, and Partner of Premiere Viticultural Services, Garrett Buckland
FISCAL & STRATEGIC PLAN IMPACT
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Is there a Fiscal Impact? |
No |
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County Strategic Plan pillar addressed: |
Collaborative and Engaged Community |
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION: The proposed action is not a project as defined by 14 California Code of Regulations 15378 (State CEQA Guidelines) and therefore CEQA is not applicable.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
Garrett Buckland has been honored with the 2023 Napa Valley Grower of the Year award. Buckland is a partner at Premiere Viticultural Services, a vineyard consulting company based in Napa.
As an active member of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, for over 10 years he has served on the board of directors in various roles, including past president, vice president, and treasurer, and in 2011, when NVG founded the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation. However, his community service goes well-beyond the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. He serves on the Groundwater Sustainability Plan Advisory Committee, volunteers for the Napa Resources Conservations District, where he surveyed Huichica Creek, Dry Creek, and Sulphur Creek, sits on the Clean Plant Material Advisory Board, is past president of the Napa Valley Vit Tech Group, is past conference chair of the Association of Applied IPM Ecologists, and worked on the Napa River Historical Ecology Project. He is a passionate advocate for sustainable farming and has successfully converted over 500 acres of vineyards from conventional to organic farming.
In 2002, Buckland and Steve Matthiasson joined forces to create Premiere Viticultural Services. As a partner of the business, Garrett works with landowners in the development of their properties. His goal is to help them advance farming practices and works with winemakers to elevate wine quality. Garrett has published dozens of articles to the Napa Valley Register, plus viticultural best practices papers for the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, and is often cited for television, print, and radio regarding the growing season.
Buckland was born and raised in the Napa Valley. He continues to dedicate his career to pursuing viticultural excellence, and is a vocal advocate for agriculture, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers, and the Napa Valley as a whole.