Congressional Wine Caucus Co-Chairs Newhouse, Thompson Lead Bipartisan Group to Seek COVID-19 Relief for Wine Grape Growers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Wine Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA) led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Perdue seeking COVID-19 relief for American wine grape growers. The letter, signed by 41 bipartisan Members of Congress, notes the exclusion of wine grapes from the list of commodities eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) and details the losses experienced by wine grape growers due to the pandemic.

"The unprecedented economic shutdown due to COVID-19 of key market channels, both domestic and international, has affected many agricultural commodities, including wine grapes," wrote the lawmakers. "The cessation of wine sales in multiple market channels has disrupted supply chains and forced wine grape growers to swim against a tide of deteriorating prices."

The estimated revenue losses for the United States' 10,000 wineries and 8,000 wine grape growers due to COVID-19 could reach $5.94 billion. Despite reports of increased wine sales through retail channels from the beginning the pandemic, declines in sales to restaurants, hotels, stadiums, and direct-to-consumer sales from wineries has far exceeded any gain that may occur elsewhere. The national wine grape revenue for 2020 is estimated to decline by 25%, resulting in a $1.4 billion decline in the farmgate value of wine grapes.

The lawmakers conclude, "We urge you and your staff to reconsider what is clear and obvious: the COVID-19 pandemic has produced tremendously adverse consequences for growers of wine grapes."

Washington state is the second largest wine grape producer in the United States, with over 1,000 wineries and more than 300 wine grape growers statewide.

"Our statistics from a just-completed study shows a 25% reduction in wine grape sales and 19% reduction in wine sales. That translates to a $855 million economic impact on Washington state's economy. That is devastating to our industry and to our state," said Vicky Scharlau, Executive Director of the Washington Winegrowers Association. "We appreciate Congressman Newhouse's efforts to bring desperately-needed relief to one of our state's largest agricultural industries."

You can find the full text of the letter here and below:

Dear Secretary Perdue,

We write to call to your attention the serious economic challenges confronting the many growers of wine grapes in our respective states. On behalf of those producers, we ask the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to recognize the widespread and substantial harm caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on market prices for our nation's wine grapes. As internal discussions continue at USDA on the next round of producer relief programs, we urge the inclusion of wine grapes on the list of specialty crops eligible for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP).

The unprecedented economic shutdown due to COVID-19 of key market channels, both domestic and international, has affected many agricultural commodities, including wine grapes. The cessation of wine sales in multiple market channels has disrupted supply chains and forced wine grape growers to swim against a tide of deteriorating prices.

Wine industry analyst Jon Moramarco, BW166, estimates the revenue losses for the nation's 10,000 wineries and 8,000 growers due to COVID-19, which could reach $5.94 billion. Despite some media reports from the start of the pandemic of increased wine sales through certain retail channels – major supermarkets, wine and spirits shops, and outlets – Moramarco forecasts declines in sales through restaurants, hotels, stadiums, and direct from wineries to consumers will far exceed any gain in sales that may occur elsewhere.

The results for growers are devastating. Moramarco expects national wine grape revenue for 2020 to decline by 25 percent, resulting in a $1.4 billion decline in the farmgate value of wine grapes. These projected losses are being felt by growers right now, as harvest is underway in many areas of the country.

Due to the unique character of the wine grape crop cycle and the processing, marketing, and sales of wine, wine grape growers and the organizations who represent them have struggled to quantify a price decline for wine grapes during a January to April timeframe, as dictated currently by CFAP requirements. We believe the Farm Service Agency's (FSA) narrow, retrospective timeframe unfairly denies support to a vitally important sector of the agricultural community, one that is responsible for an enormous amount of economic activity.

According to a 2017 economic impact analysis by WineAmerica, our nation's wine industry generates nearly $11 billion in state and federal taxes and supports 998,000 jobs. This contribution to our nation's economic and fiscal health rests on the shoulders of the many people who grow and harvest wine grapes.

Finally, we wish to state our concern over the apparent disparate treatment of wine grapes as an eligible commodity under the current CFAP Direct Payment program. On August 14, the FSA announced in the Federal Register it was making eligible a long list of specialty crop commodities for which commenters had stated, "Certain commodities should be eligible even when no price decrease was identified because they were affected by market chain disruptions." In response to comments of this nature, FSA stated,

"USDA evaluated the data submitted by commenters and Market News data when available. As a result of that evaluation, we are adding…" such commodities as Aloe Leaves, Bananas, Maple Sap, and Pumpkins to the list of eligible specialty crop commodities under CFAP.

We note that many of the newly added commodities had far fewer comments and specific data than that offered by our nation's wine grape growers and their representative organizations. We urge you and your staff to reconsider what is clear and obvious: the COVID-19 pandemic has produced tremendously adverse economic consequences for growers of wine grapes.

Thank you for considering our request.

Background:

Wine is produced in all 50 states and generates jobs and revenue in both rural and urban communities. The wine industry contributes an estimated $220 billion to the U.S. economy annually and creates the equivalent of more than one million full-time jobs. The 10,000 predominantly family-owned wineries in the U.S. attract more than 43 million tourists each year who enjoy the wines, cultural activities, and scenic pastoral landscapes in wine country.

In Washington State, there are more than 1,000 wineries and over 300 wine grape growers. With 15 unique AVAs across the state, Washington's wine industry continues to grow and produce high-quality varieties that are enjoyed all over the world. In addition, Washington State University is one of the country's leading viticulture research institutions and one of only 14 universities in the United States to offer a Viticulture & Enology degree.

The Congressional Wine Caucus was founded in 1999 by Congressmen and wine grape growers Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) and George Radanovich (R-Fresno) to protect the interests of our vibrant wine community from grape to glass. Today, the Caucus brings together 117 bipartisan, bicameral Members of Congress and is chaired by Thompson and Congressman Dan Newhouse (R-Sunnyside). You can click here to learn more about the Congressional Wine Caucus.