What does certification mean?

Certification means that the plant material has a been subjected to a comprehensive process established, authorized and performed by a state or other governmental entity to minimize the occurrence of regulated pests and diseases in planting stock. State level certification focuses on testing for graft transmissible or systemic pathogens such as viruses.

 

Five states have grapevine certification programs – California, Missouri, New York, Oregon and Washington.

 

Common features of the programs:

• Participation is voluntary

• Registered blocks and foundations are visually inspected and/or tested for significant grape pathogens as defined by the state

• Mechanism for tracking vines forwards and backwards

• Isolation requirements from commercial plantings

• Identity (true-to-typeness) requirements

 

State Certification Programs

The California Grapevine Registration & Certification Program handles the highest volume of certified grapevine material. Best estimates, based on nursery self reporting, are that approximately 50 million CDFA certified plants are sold annually. Regulations are described at:

 

Grapevine Registration and Certification Program from the California Dept. of Food and Agriculture

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In New York, a certification program was reinstated in 2017.  Nursery stock is tested for grapevine fanleaf virus, tomato ringspot virus, tobacco ringspot virus, grapevine leafroll-associated viruses and grapevine red blotch virus. Regulations are described at:

New York State Virus-Tested Certification Program

 

In 2021, Washington and Oregon, the Grape Planting Stock Certification Programs completed the process of harmonizing their grape certification programs to allow the unimpeded flow of clean, virus-tested material from state to state. More information is available at:

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Grape Planting Stock Certification from the Washington Dept. of Agriculture 

 

Certification of Nursery Stock in Oregon and Acquiring Healthy Grapes from the Oregon Dept. of Agriculture