California grape companies partner on sustainability
Columbine Vineyards, a part of the AC Foods family, has announced a partnership with Four Star Sales Inc. to meet the increasing demands of the fresh table grape industry.
The collaboration will allow both companies to further the reach of their portfolio of table grape varieties, including their branded proprietary varieties Holiday and Pristine, according to a news release. The two companies will work together on sales.
“We have been working with Columbine Vineyards over the past few years, and our relationship deepens each year,” Jack Campbell, CEO of Four Star Sales, said in the release. “With this partnership, we are strengthening our organizations and offerings.”
The two companies come together with their own foundations in sustainability.
“Environmental stewardship is a key area of focus for us, and this will continue to be a part of the vision for both companies,” Craig Hope, AC Foods CEO said in the release. “It all starts with the land and the great partnerships we have with our customers on our banner products, and both teams are excited to continue to work together to deliver on sustainable, biodiverse farming practices that deliver high-quality grapes to the industry.”
Columbine Vineyards is the first sustainably grown, certified table grape producer in the U.S., according to the release. The certification represents the significant impacts Columbine Vineyards has made over the past few years, including water conservation, with 843 million gallons saved, a 54% reduction in Styrofoam use and carbon sequestering at 5,200 metric tons, the equivalent of 1,140 cars off the roads annually, the release said. As a result of certification, all of Columbine's grape brands will now carry the SCS Kingfisher Sustainably Grown certification mark, the release said.
Four Star has focused on solar energy with 2.9-megawatt capacity, which almost fully powers the company’s three facilities across California, the release said, noting that the company also practices sustainable, biodiverse farming practices, no-tillage techniques and an integrated, ecologically sound pest management program.
Columbine and Four Star together bring significant scale to the grape category, as both teams have industry leading varieties, strong marketing initiatives, aligned customer objectives and qualified management teams that will benefit both the grape category and customers, the release said.
