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Around The Vineyard

Organization declared the outbreak of SarsCoV-2 Changes Implemented Due to the
(the virus that causes of COVID-19) a pandemic. At Pandemic Common to all Speakers
the time I was In Argentina and had to cancel most
of my vineyard visits to return home on the last Everyone concurred that the most important issue
available flight. Since then, most of my work has was to keep all employees safe (people first atti-
been done using Zoom, email, and phone calls. In tude). Right away internal management discussed
this article I describe how vineyard personnel, who safety and well-being of teams. Physical distancing
do not have the luxury to work from home, man- and mask wearing was immediately made man-
aged their field work during the pandemic. datory. Keeping employees six feet apart in the
vineyard is not a difficult task, as crews can work
Lise Asimont (the session moderator) opened the every other planted row. When maintaining physi-
session reminding everyone that 2020 was a chal- cal distance, the workers were allowed to take their
lenging year for vineyard operations due to labor masks off which made their work easier (especial-
shortages, global pandemic, and wildfires (espe- ly in hot days or for workers who wear glasses).
cially throughout the United States West Coast). In There was a large investment in cleaning, disinfect-
her words “this session is about making lemonade ing supplies, and bottled water.
out of lemons”. The speakers were chosen to
represent growers in different viticulture regions There was an increase of communication and fre-
in the Western United States to discuss how vine- quent meetings to update and train employees on
yard operations and labor practices adapted to the COVID 19 symptoms, how SarsCoV-2 spreads, local
COVID 19 Pandemic. It is expected that the infor- resources, company rules, community outreach,
mation presented on the contingency planning of etc. Because of the influx of information, it was
these professionals made will help others cope in important to stop misinformation from the media.
the future. Training included: the need for increased sanitation

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