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
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.