Chapter 4

Vineyard Site Selection

Organic Certification Site Requirements

The National Organic Program has requirements that affect site selection. Fields must not have been treated with prohibited products for three years prior to harvest of the certified organic crop. If a certified organic grower is replanting, the mandatory 1-year crop rotation out of grapes doesn‘t apply because harvest is 5 years in the future. However, a 3 to 4 year rotation has the potential to aid in breaking certain pest and disease cycles. For growers planting a new field, adequate buffer zones must exist between certified organic and conventionally grown crops to prevent drift of prohibited materials onto certified organic crops.

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