Opportunity for Growers to Mix with Researchers Provided at PD/GWSS Science Forum

Sacramento, Calif, June 12, 2006 – California’s winegrape growers will get their chance to talk one-on-one with Pierce’s disease (PD) researchers on June 29, during a one-day PD/GWSS Science Forum taking place at this year’s American Society of Enology & Viticulture’s (ASEV) Annual Meeting being held at the Sacramento Convention Center in Sacramento.

The PD/GWSS Board is offering the science forum on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. as an informal place for winegrape growers to meet and talk with researchers working on this important issue.

Half a dozen of the leading researchers on Pierce’s disease and the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter (GWSS) will be on hand to discuss their research, showcase their successes and gather winegrape grower input.

For $25, the price of a two-day hall pass, growers will have access not only to the PD/GWSS Science Forum on the exhibit floor but also to over 160 companies showcasing their products, equipment and services on Wednesday and Thursday (June 28 and 29), a complimentary wine reception on Wednesday afternoon and the ASEV’s Supplier Showcase Seminars.

For more information on the ASEV Annual Meeting program and trade show being held in Sacramento on June 26-30, 2006, visit the ASEV Web site at www.asev.org.

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The PD/GWSS Board was established in July 2001 to support scientific research to find a cure for Pierce’s disease. An annual assessment paid by winegrape growers supports the research efforts. The PD/GWSS Board also advises the California Department of Food and Agriculture on a variety of other issues pertaining to Pierce’s disease and the Glassy-Winged Sharpshooter.

The importance of the work of the Board is underscored by the fact that Pierce’s disease has no known cure and, if left unchecked, could be devastating to the grape industry and several other California crops. A study recently released by the Wine Institute and the California Association of Winegrape Growers showed that the total annual economic impact of California’s winegrape industry is estimated at $45.4 billion.