Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/418083
30 DECEMBER 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com sectors would increase from approxi- mately 15,800 jobs in 2013 to 20,580 in 2018. High correlation The study was spawned by a grower survey done a few years ago that high- lighted a serious shortage of skilled work- ers in the short term, says Steve Warner, president of the Washington Wine Commission, which partially funded the recent study. "Our industry has been growing at a 5 percent compound rate for many years, although growth last year was by 18 per- cent," he said. Warner estimates growth from the annual volume of wine sales, as tracked by the Washington State Liquor Control Board. "The study showed highly significant correlations between the number of wineries, acreage, and volume of fruit produced and the number of jobs in the industry," he said. Warner noted that in recent years, wine grape production has increased from 142,000 tons in 2011 to around 230,000 tons that's been estimated for the 2014 crop. "The study results make total sense to me," he said, adding that anecdotal feedback he's received from growers and winery owners confirm the study's conclusions. The Wine Commission is updating industry economic impact numbers and is funding an analysis by Stonebridge to measure economic contributions from the state's wine industry. The report, based on 2013 data, is near completion and should be published by February. The last economic study was published in 2012 . Six Washington colleges and universi- ties offer viticulture and enology degrees or certificates. (See Table 2.) Colleges are located near urban centers and the state's major wine regions and teach a variety of programs related to the wine industry, from grape production and winemak- ing to wine marketing to food and wine paring. Walla Walla Community College has the oldest viticulture and enology program, one that began in 2000. In the 2013-14 school year, approxi- mately 100 students in the state received two- or four-year degrees, a number far short of the 160 employees that vineyard- ists and vintners expect to need in the next few years. Helpful data Data from the recent needs assess- ment study is valuable in many ways, says Ball. "It's helpful when we (viticulture and "The study showed ϔ ǡ ǡ Ǥdz — Steve Warner Willow Drive Nursery, Inc. Call Toll Free: 1-888-548-7337 3539 Road 5 NW, Ephrata, WA 98823, www.willowdrive.com Ambrosia™ Blondee™ Cameo® brand Chrisolyn™ Jonathan Granny Smith Jonastar™ Jonagold Pink Lady® Brand RubyMac® Snowsweet® Spartan Zestar!® Gala: Buckeye® Gala Ultima Gala® Early Fuji: Morning Mist™ Rising Sun® Braeburn: Kumeu Crimson® Mariri Red™ Additional Varieties Brookfield ® Gala (Baigent CV) From Ne w Z ea land we bring you Bro o kfield , ® the ultimate striped Gala.The bold red stripe over its red background is the obvious improvement. The apple's early color permits proper har vest timing for best sto r a g e mat uri t y, f l avo r re t enti o n , a n d c usto m er satisfaction. USPP# 10,016 Lady in Red This high colored Cripps Pink sport was first discovered in 1996 as a chance limb mutation in Hawkes Bay, New Z ealand. Color formation begins well over a month before harvest and finishes off with a beautiful, nice, reddish-pink hue. Beyond the high color factor of the cultivar, Lady in Red was shown to mature approximately one week earlier than the Cripps Pink cultivar grown in the same location in New Zealand. As with standard Cripps Pink, Lady in Red may not be suitable for all growing areas due to its late harvest timing. (Lady in Red is a sport of Cripps Pink) USPP #18,787 Royal Red Honeycrisp® Discovered in the Columbia Basin of Washington State, this exciting new color sport of Honeycrisp is catching attention from coast to coast. Royal Red Honeycrisp® is a blush type selection and maintains the crisp, juicy texture of its parent that so many consumers have come to love. Beyond the high color factor, initial tests indicate that it's improved storage characteristics may be equally important in improving pack-out. As with its parent, the tree is low vigor and care should be taken not to crop it too soon. USPP #22,244 Aztec Fuji ® DT2 variety Aztec Fuji ® is a high colored Fuji sport from New Zealand. It has the sweet juicy flavor, crisp texture and harvest maturity of standard Fuji. Aztec is a blush type and observations show it to be one of the highest coloring Fuji sports to date. Aztec Fuji® is a protected trademark of Waimea Variety Management Ltd. Early Robin ® This early Rainier-type cherry matures 7-10 days before standard Rainier. Early Robin ® is mild in flavor and medium to large in size. Early Robin ® requires a pollinizer but Van should not be used. USPP#13,951 Willow Drive Nursery Call now for availability