Compost for Vineyards

Filed in archive Vineyards on December 12, 2006

Since the boom of recycling hit the world, compost has come a long way. It's good for all kinds of stuff, and that includes nurturing wine at various vineyards. One company has even turned this into a business, and business is doing very well according to this article cbs5.com:

A company outside Vacaville that turns table scraps from restaurants into compost for local vineyards said business is booming.

Jepson Prairie Organics of Dixon makes "Four Course Compost'' from food scraps and kitchen trimmings from restaurants in San Francisco and Oakland and mixes them with other additives such as rock phosphate, gypsum, lime and sulfate of potash to create custom compost blends.

Local vineyards rushed to apply the compost before rains began this weekend, the company reported last week.

Between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1, vineyards received and applied more than 450 truckloads, or 16,000 cubic yards, of compost. In November alone more than 140 truckloads, each carrying 35 cubic yards of finished compost, were delivered to Northern California vineyards.

Soil scientist Bob Shaffer, of Soil Culture Consulting in Glen Ellen, said superior compost is vital to harvest high-quality fruit for ultra-premium wines.

"Compost used by vineyards over the past 10 years has shown the industry that applying this material elevates soil quality and vine health,'' Shaffer said.

More than 2,000 restaurants and thousands of homes provide the food scraps. Sunset Scavenger, Golden Gate Disposal & Recycling and Norcal Waste Systems Inc. collect 330 tons of compostable material a day, Robert Reed of Jepson Prairie Organics said.