Redwood Empire Vineyard Management Named 'Outstanding Sustainable Farmer'

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – News submitted from the Sonoma County Harvest Fair coming soon to the Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds:

Though far from new to the agricultural business, Sonoma County’s Redwood Empire Vineyard Management (REVM) employs farming practices as fresh and forward-thinking as they come. The company, founded in 1983, is today a leader in the movement toward sustainable farming.

As the very first certified sustainable vineyard management company in California, REVM is setting a model of excellence for vineyard managers and growers countywide and statewide to follow. The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is pleased to recognize Redwood Empire Vineyard Management’s exceptional leadership and proud to present owners Kevin and Linda Barr and Tyler Klick with Sonoma County Harvest Fair’s first-ever Outstanding Sustainable Farmer Award.

“The word ‘sustainability’ can mean different things to different people,” says Kevin Barr. “But to me, it’s pretty simple. It means just doing the right thing for the land and for future generations. It means that every piece of land that REVM puts its hands on is environmentally better after we’re finished. It means being dedicated farmers committed to protecting the land that grows beautiful fruit.”

REVM became California’s first certified sustainable vineyard management company in 2012. The company’s leadership in achieving and modeling a high standard for sustainable farming became especially significant in 2014, when the Sonoma County Grape Growers Association committed to being the first 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.

“Our philosophy has always been about sustainability,” says Linda Barr. “But now more than ever we’re incorporating sustainable practices throughout everything we do. Whether it’s creek restoration or pioneering fish-friendly farming operations or just always staying current with what’s best for the land, we feel it’s the right thing to do and are proud to be on the cutting edge of this transformation.” she adds.

Tyler Klick believes sustainability is important to agriculture. “The certification allows us to evaluate our practices, identify deficiencies, and improve them. We are always looking to improve the land’s ecology, maintain profitability, be socially aware of our community and do what is right for our employees. Labor is our most valuable resource. Becoming the first sustainable vineyard manager is important to our industry, as many farms are farmed by third party operators who are not the landowners. Prior to 2012, there was not a program to certify non-owner farming operations. We worked closely with Certified California Sustainable Winegrowing (CCSW) to create the path for non-landowner operators such as vineyard managers to become certified.”

Redwood Empire Vineyard Management is a full service vineyard management, vineyard development, vineyard leasing, and estate development company. Its staff of 250 people farms and maintains vineyards in Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and Lake counties year round.

The Sonoma County Harvest Fair is proud to recognize Kevin and Linda Barr and Tyler Klick of Redwood Empire Vineyard Management with its first-ever Outstanding Sustainable Farmer Award. The Barr’s and Klick will be celebrated along with their fellow Harvest Fair award recipients during a ceremony and dinner to be heldSeptember 25 at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts. The celebration is open to the public with tickets available at HarvestFair.org.

The 2016 Sonoma County Harvest Fair is September 30-October 2 at the Sonoma County Events Center at the Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. The popular and prestigious annual event includes the World Championship Grape Stomp, wine, beer and cider tasting, food and wine-related seminars, workshops and much more.

For information, visit HarvestFair.org or call (707) 545-4200.

Also see:

• Harvest Fair Names '2016 Outstanding Young Person in Agribusiness'
• Russian River Brewing Co. Receives Harvest Fair Award for 'Excellence in the Craft Beer Industry'
• Harvest Fair Names '2016 Friend of Sonoma County Agriculture'
• Singing Frogs Farm Takes 'Excellence In Local Food Production' Honor From Sonoma Co. Harvest Fair
• Mark Your Calendars For Upcoming Sonoma County Harvest Fair: Tickets On Sale

--Image courtesy of Sonoma County Harvest Fair