These efforts, however, have been severely hampered through species mislabeling and erroneous disease screening by grapevine suppliers. The company aims to take advantage of the current market needs by establishing itself in the US grapevine industry. In this case, the scope of the assessment spans the origin of source grapevine cuttings to the final disposal of old, unproductive vines in the vineyards, covering transport, recycling of waste materials, product usage, as well as whether the company utilizes a strong eco-management plan. The nursery receives scions and rootstocks from plant material centers. Once received, the materials are screened for leafroll and fanleaf, common vine diseases.
Field finishing is carried out by subcontractors in California.
Thus, the application of greengrafting to the grape growing industry is a significant achievement, since it involves a more intricate and successful technique than traditional grafting. In addition, a solid graft union reduces the probability of frost damage, and bacterial and fungal infection, thus potentially diminishing pesticide requirements. The nursery was planning a move to California in 1995, which is now taking place, and the move has a variety of positive ecological consequences, including potential to restructure the greenhouses, and reduced transport of materials to and from the original facility in Oregon. This nursery is in a unique position to offer its clientele consulting services to ensure that their vines are being utilized in a manner which promotes environmental sustainability, and to develop a clear unified eco-management system. Their efforts in this area at the time of the rating were considered above-average.