VASCM: Fwd: Media Inquiry About Japanese Radiation

[Mary Lindsay, Muns Vineyard]

FYI:
A message from John Aguirre, President of CAWG, prompted by media inquiries:

Regards,
- Mary Lindsay


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Media Inquiry About Japanese Radiation
Date: 	Fri, 18 Mar 2011 13:32:09 -0500
From: 	John Aguirre <john at cawg.org>



California Regional Associations:

I want to make you aware of a media call I received this morning. 
Elizabeth Campbell of Bloomberg News called to ask about the potential 
threat of radiation deposition onto California winegrapes as a result of 
Japan's nuclear crisis. Elizabeth wanted to know:

·Do we have concerns about possible radiation contamination of winegrapes?

·What advice, if any, have we communicated to our members?

If you receive a similar call, then consider the California Department 
of Public Health's (CDPH) website as a resource. In particular, the 
department's FAQs on the subject is good. To date, the CDPH sees no risk 
to Californians from the nuclear problems in Japan. CDPH has radiologic 
air monitoring stations and they are actively monitoring the situation, 
along with federal officials.

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/default.aspx

I told Elizabeth that California's public health officials don't believe 
there is currently any risk, we are 5,000 miles away, and CDPH is 
actively monitoring the situation (she wasn't aware that the 
department's radiologic health branch maintains 8 air monitoring 
stations). There are two things to consider: currently there are no 
meaningful increased levels of radiation and our vineyards are only now 
beginning to enter into bud break. Consequently, we don't expect any 
meaningful exposure of the winegrape crop to radiation deposition from 
Japan, but we will continue to monitor reports on the subject by 
California and federal public health officials.

Elizabeth wasn't certain whether or not they would run a story, and she 
said she was going to reach out to some other California ag and food 
groups. If the situation in Japan worsens, then I can see the potential 
for this to become a significant story.

John

*John Aguirre**|* *California Association of Winegrape Growers**|*President

1325 J Street, Suite 1560*|*Sacramento, CA 95814
916 379 8995 *|* 1 800 241 1800 *|* www.cawg.org <http://www.cawg.org/> *|*