North Bay Business Journal

Also: Jess Jackson, Kunde and Balletto families receive honors

NORTH BAY — U.S. Agriculture Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service today said it has set aside $1 million to help farmers in seven California counties, including four in the North Bay, pay for environmentally friendly options control the spread of the European grapevine moth, which can destroy winegrape crops.

Francis Ford Coppola had about 450 applicants turn out earlier this month for 130 positions at his newly renovated Geyserville winery. The number of experienced applicants, mainly in hospitality functions, negated the need for a second job fair, according to a spokeswoman. | The battle against the European grapevine moth has expanded to six California counties. | Healdsburg-based Ascentia Wine Estates, which started in June 2008 with more than $200 million raised from GESD Capital Partners of San Francisco and wine marketer W.J. Deutsch & Sons of New York, is now in a legal battle with the latter. | Recent crop reports underscore the larger 2009 winegrape crop in the North Coast. | Pigs will soon be flying through winery pipes. Named after the squealing noise made by devices the petroleum industry uses to maintain pipe interiors, these food-grade silicone “pigs” were devised by ARS Enterprises of Calistoga to move the remainder of wine between areas of a winery without water as well as clean deposits left in the pipes. |

UKIAH — Thirteen European grapevine moths, which can destroy whole crops in certain stages of development, were found in a vineyard in north Ukiah, expanding the fight against the grape cluster pest from Napa, Sonoma and Solano counties.

NORTH BAY – State, federal and local agriculture officials are expanding the quarantine areas for the European grapevine moth in Napa and Sonoma counties after the insect was found in Kenwood, Sonoma and Calistoga.

NAPA VALLEY — The state Department of Food and Agriculture today declared 162 square miles in two portions of Napa Valley and tiny portions of Sonoma and Solano counties under quarantine to control what’s being called the first infestation of the European grapevine moth in the U.S.