Frequently Asked Questions
What is meant by "Quarantine" in relation to grape planting stock?
We use the term as it relates to the importation of grape planting stock into the state and its freedom from diseases and other pests. There are two levels of 'Quarantine' that we deal with: (1) within the States and Territories of the United States and (2) foreign. At the State level most States have codes relating to the quarantine of diseases and insects. The 'quarantine' area includes all states and territories of the USA outside the borders of said State. Foreign importation of grape planting stock into a state must first satisfy the Federal quarantine rules either with accepted phytosanitary documentation or release from a federally approved foreign import station. Generally once Federal requirements have been met the State requirements are also met. A State cannot regulate or quarantine foreign trade nor can a State have quarantines on interstate shipments that exceed federal quarantines.
What is meant by the term "Certified Nursery Planting Stock"?
Like the "Quarantine" question the answer to this question is found in the individual State codes, but only if they have a Certification and Registration planting stock program. "Certified" planting material is the result of a process that is outlined in State code and usually administered by the State's Dept. of Agriculture. It is a process where a nursery acquires State Registered Foundation planting stock and plants this material in a State registered Increase/Mother block for subsequent propagation purposes. The resulting propagated vines from the Increase/Mother block can be sold as "State Certified" and can be tagged as such. It is the responsibility of both the State's Dept. of Agriculture and the certified nursery to maintain the 'Registered' status of the Registered Increase/Mother blocks. It is important to understand that the Certification tag issued by the respective State Dept. of Agriculture is the end result of a process controlled by the State's codes and that 'Certified' means propagated from Foundation or Registered vines that have been tested and found free of required viruses and visually free of other named diseases and pests.
Why should I plant "Certified" material?
To prevent the introduction and/or spread of unwanted virus and bacterial diseases via propagation from infected vines. The planting of infected vines threatens the livelihood of the grower and the competitiveness of the regions wine industry by adversely affecting quantity and quality of the fruit. The first introduction of viral and bacterial diseases to vineyards is by planting of an infected vine. Once established the disease spreads through further propagation of diseased plants or in some diseases the virus is vectored from plant to plant by insects or nematodes. And when established the disease is extremely difficult to eradicate, not to mention costly to the grower. Planting a new or 'clean' vineyard site with "Certified" vines is your best insurance for a healthy and profitable vineyard for many years to come. If all planting stock sales were "Certified" vines then WTO trade agreements would allow State quarantines for a given virus to remain in affect should that virus be already present in the State's production vineyards. Should the State loose its ability to quarantine unwanted pests then the doors would open for the "legal" additional introduction of infected vines.
What is meant by "Foundation Level" plant material?
Simply put it is the original source of a nursery's 'Registered' Increase/Mother block vines. The requirements for a Foundation Vineyard are also spelled out in State code as well as who operates the Foundation program. For Washington, 'Foundation Level' planting stock means propagation material coming from a planting of grapevines established and maintained by Washington State University, that are indexed and found free of viruses designated in the State's Code. Foundation level planting material has its own 'Certification' tagging which is also issued and controlled by the State's Dept. of Agriculture.
What is the "NorthWest Grape Foundation Service" and its role in certification?
The first step in participating in a State's Clean Stock program is the required use of accepted Foundation Level planting Stock in establishing the nursery's certified Increase/Mother block. The NorthWest Grape Foundation Service is a Foundation Level program that provides Foundation certified planting stock to participating certified nurseries as well as to other customers. This material meets or exceeds the requirements of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington quarantine and certification codes and their clean stock programs. The NorthWest Grape Foundation Service will source the decided upon selections for inclusion into the Foundation Vineyard, assure that all requirements are met for inclusion into the Vineyard, maintain all indexing records and provide these records with planting stock material sold.
Is the "NorthWest Grape Foundation Service" different than other foundation level programs in existence?
Currently, our program is different than some of the other programs in existence in that RSPaV (Rupestris Stem Pitting associated Virus) is a required virus to be certified tested free of. In addition, we automatically propagate new acquisitions for inclusion into the Foundation Vineyard in such a way to assure freedom from the crown gall bacterium. Like all Foundation Programs, there is a priority listing for potential customers. Our top priority is to service the Northwest States of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Is plant material available to all who request it from the NorthWest Grape Foundation Service vineyard?
Yes, but as mentioned above, our primary function is to service the industries of the Northwest States. Because of limited amounts of propagation material available we have a priority listing here also. The 1 st in line would be those State's Certified Nurseries, followed by State and Federal Research, non-certified nurseries, individual growers, then out of region including foreign as long as our certification satisfies their quarantine requirements.
Are other Foundation level sources available for use in certification programs?
The answer to this is with each individual State. With respect to the State of Washington the answer is yes in that the FPS program at UC Davis is an accepted Foundation Level source for Certified Increase/Mother blocks as long as this material satisfies all requirements of the State Code dealing with the clean stock program.
Can "non-certified" plant material be purchased?
Unfortunately, from a disease spread standpoint, the answer is yes. Licensed nurseries and growers can propagate planting stock from sources other than Registered and Certified Increase/Mother blocks. It is legal for sales of this type of material only within the originating State's boundaries. Sales to other States would be in violation of the go-to State 's Quarantine regulations should there be any. This issue of selling non-certified vines within a State's boundaries will become more complicated as we move into compliance of WTO, NAFTA and IPPC agreements.
Can "certified" plant material be purchased from outside the State, but within the United States?
Yes, as long as the providing source is able to satisfy the incoming State's Quarantine requirements. The originating State must have certification programs that are recognized by the incoming State. The certification programs of the Western states of California and Oregon are recognized by Washington.
Can plant material be purchased from outside the United States?
Yes, but all Federal importation and phytosanitary requirements must be met before the material will be released to the individual or organization importing the selection). The selection may be required to enter only through a sanctioned foreign import site. Certified planting stock from Canada does not require a 'foreign import station' for entry into the US and Washington.
What is the "National Clonal Germplasm Repository" and can plant material be acquired from them?
The National Clonal Germplasm Repository is a Federally administered program whose entity collects, maintains, characterizes, and distributes many types of plants. Its purpose is to preserve diversity. There are two grape repositories in the National program: One at UC Davis, CA and the other at Cornell University , Geneva , NY . The Repository does not offer certified plants and thus ready accessibility is limited to research purposes if they are unable to satisfy State quarantine requirements for general entry.
How are selections chosen for inclusion into the NorthWest Grape Foundation Service vineyard?
Initial selections that have been placed in the new NorthWest Grape Foundation Service vineyard were selected from the old existing Foundation vineyard by members of Washington 's wine and grape industries. In addition to the moved selections, several new selections were requested and have been included in the initial planting. Future new inclusions will go through a selection process of: (1) proposing a variety/clone to the Foundation Service; (2)the Foundation Service presenting proposals to a selection committee for approval or rejection; (3) Foundation Service acquiring the selection and completing requirements for inclusion into the Foundation vineyard. Proposals for inclusion are open to all who wish to make one, but due to limitations in acquisition funding and propagation space it may be that not all requests will be honored.
What is meant by "Private" selections vs. "Public" selections?
These are selections that are placed in a Foundation Vineyard and are either open to the public for acquisition ("Public") or open only to the sponsor and his/her consignees ("Private"). Operational funding for "Public" selections will come from monies generated by sales of propagation material, assessment on nursery sales, grants and donations. Whereas operational funding for "Private" selections will come from introduction and annual maintenance fees that are the sole responsibility of the sponsor.
Can proprietary selections be placed in the NorthWest Grape Foundation Service vineyard?
Yes. The NorthWest Grape Foundation Service is structured to handle proprietary selections. All introduction costs and annual maintenance fees will be the responsibility of the sponsor with no funding coming from the public domain sector. Proprietary material will satisfy Certification requirements the same as public material.
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