NORTH COAST – The Pierce's Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter (PD/GWSS) Referendum to continue wine grapegrowers' self-assessment that funds research on Pierce's disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter passed. More than 40 percent of eligible growers cast ballots, and 84 percent voted yes.
The assessment has been in place since 2001, and was extended to 2011 by Senate Bill 1650. Senate Bill 2 gave growers the opportunity to vote to continue the assessment until 2016. It allows for grapes to assessed up to $3 per $1,000 of crop value. For the past two years the rate has been $1 per $1,000.
