The Monterey County Vintners and Growers Foundation generously donates time, talents, and financial resources to the community. Notable causes include:
Charitable Donations
MCVGA recognizes the wonderful work of many other 501c3 organizations that could not fulfill their mission without the support of charitable contributions. Based upon this, MCVGA has been active in partnering with various organizations and providing monetary contributions to those causes. Recent charitable contributions have included Rancho Cielo, Best Buddies, Habitat for Humanity, and Heal the Bay. (great if we could link to these causes)
Scholarship Programs
The Monterey County wine industry is focused on causes that contribute to the educational advancement of students and professionals. The local funding program has focused on students entering college who meet the qualifications of demonstrated scholastic ability, community involvement, leadership, and a determination to succeed.
In 2010, over $10,000 in scholarship funding was given to local students.
The American Vineyard Foundation
The American Vineyard Foundation (AVF) is a California corporation organized in 1978 by the American Society of Enology and Viticulture as a vehicle to raise funds for research in viticulture and enology. The AVF is a non-profit, tax-exempt scientific and educational organization. Efforts of this group which focus on basic and applied research has made the American grape and wine industry the world’s leader in growing grapes of unsurpassed quantity and quality.
The industry’s vital research efforts have been eroded by the severely diminishing research role of government and land grant universities. Meanwhile, public spending is requiring greater private sector responsibility. The purpose of the AVF is to continue sustainable viticulture practices and ultimately increase the US market share in the wine industry.
University of California Cooperative Extension Program, Monterey
The UC Cooperative Extension Program is a resource of agriculture professionals that identify, research, and monitor agriculture issues and pests in an effort to protect Monterey County’s leading industry. The UC Cooperative Extension Program has been vital in preventing numerous pests that have minimized or eradicated wine regions in other areas. Innovations in monitoring and trapping have prevented the Light Brown Apple Moth, Glass Winged Sharpshooter, Pierce’s Disease, and Vine Mealybug from taking a significant toll on Monterey Wine Country. A new pest, the European Grapevine Moth, has been detected in several vineyards in northern California. The industry is actively monitoring and studying this pest to avoid harmful impacts.
