Mechanical Harvesting - Is it Right for You?
Is mechanical harvesting right for you? California farmer CPAs at Cook CPA Group discuss the benefits and disadvantages of mechanical harvesting for agribusiness.
Cook CPA presents its inaugural event in its Vintner’s Innovation Series to share more information to wineries and grape growers beyond tax and accounting issues!
Our first topic will be:
Is Mechanical Harvesting Right for You?
Are you concerned about the steady increase in harvesting costs by the use of hand crews? Are you interested in exploring how to transition to mechanical harvesting?
Our seminar offers you the opportunity to hear insights from a panel of experts covering the following topics:
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Assessing vineyard configuration
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Cost differentials of hand crews vs. mechanical harvesting
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Functions and capabilities of mechanical harvesters
- Impacts on the quality of the grapes
- Opportunity to specifically question the panel of experts
Date: Thursday, February 4, 2016
Time: 5:30 to 7:30 pm
Location: Granite Bay Golf Club, 9600 Golf Club Drive, Granite Bay, CA 95746
$25 per person
Please RSVP by February 1
Our speakers will be:
Bill Stokes, Stokes Brother Farms
Mr. Stokes is a third generation Agri-businessman in the Lodi-Sacramento Delta area. He owns and manages over 5,000 acres of vineyards and orchards. He is a Partner and President of Benson Ferry Vineyards, Baywood Cellars, Lodi Wine Cellars, S & L Vineyards and Stokes Brothers Farms. In addition to his businesses, he is President of the Woodbridge Irrigation District and a Founder and Board Member of Community Business Bank.
Mr. Stokes has been involved in mechanical harvesting in his vineyards as well as custom/commercial harvesting for third parties since the early 1980s. Mr. Stokes currently owns and operates twelve mechanical harvesters throughout Northern California.
Mike Fitzgerald, American Grape Harvesters
Mr. Fitzgerald has been working with viticulture equipment since the late 1970s. He was a service manager for Ag-Right in Madera for 20 years where he worked on building a wider selection of viticulture equipment. Following that he was with Oxbo/Korvab for 8 years in sales, product development, dealer training and global support for all things viticulture. He managed the shop at Vineyard Equipment and is now with AGH in sales and product development.
Art Prudhel, LAP Farming LLC
Mr. Prudhel is from a fourth generation wine grape growing family. Mr. Prudhel has been farming his family’s 300 acres of wine grapes for over 15 years as well as managing and developing more than 800 acres in San Joaquin county and the Lodi area. Over the past four years. Mr. Prudhel has formed LAP Farming LLC. His company provides custom farming, chemical application, property management and a full service mechanical team.