Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/138003
ers with J-1 visas. "Handling plants may not necessarily be an unskilled occupation," he said. "Some plant work is semiskilled and a case can be made for J-1 workers in this argument." " ' Wo r k e r ' i s n o t t h e r i g h t description for a J-1 recipient," confirmed Christopher Barden, vice president of Worldwide Farmers Exchange (www.worldwidefarmers.org), a nonprofit, non-governmental organization that sponsors young farmers and agriculture students from around the world. The organization's Wine and Harvest Crush Program, which usu- ally lasts for two to five months, depending on the length of the crush season, provides hands-on experience in the U.S. for men and women from other countries. Participants are placed on payroll with the host winery, yet pay their own visa fees, travel, housing and other living expenses while in the U.S., plus a program fee to Worldwide Farmers Exchange (a $1,200 annual flat fee covers visa processing, taxassistance preparation and medical insurance). "They certainly learn by doing, but they do not perform manual labor," Barden said. "J-1 recipients Get the best out of your grapes. The Europress exclusively by Euro-Machines usually arrive at the winery in time for the crush and can stay from three to six months." While viticulture is a leading recruitment area for the J-1 visa, he added, it is also commonly used to bring in aspiring hospitality and marketing professionals. Joseph Finora Jr. is a financial writer and amateur winemaker in Laurel, N.Y. Comments? Please e-mail us at feedback@vwmmedia.com. Euro-Machines offers high-quality equipment based on your vision to bring out the best of every vine, with our proven history in the careful handling of grapes and together our love of good wine. Europress 6-320 hl Europress-Cool with cooling jacket Euroselect berry selector Destemmer crushers Sorting equipment Conveyor belts Vibrating tables Custom-made tanks Pumps Braud grape harvesters and much more Euro-Machines, Inc. West: Fairfield, CA 94534 - Phone 707-864-5800 East: Culpeper, VA 22701 - Phone 540-825-5700 info@euromachinesusa.com www.euromachinesusa.com A subsidiary of Scharfenberger Company Germany 56 V I N E YARD & WINERY MANAGEMENT | July - Aug 2013 w w w. v w m m e d i a . c o m