This is an exciting time for the Oregon wine industry.   Approximately one fifth of the vineyards in Oregon will become certified sustainable in 2007!  The industry has shifted its focus to the green message of sustainability and the Oregon Wine Board has committed itself to promoting our success.  LIVE has met with the other sustainability groups (Tilth, Demeter, Food Alliance) to hammer out a set of shared principles around which we will create a common sustainability mark unique to our industry.  In addition, we have begun discussions with the Food Alliance to create a sustainability certification program for our wineries.  Our goal is to fully involve the wineries in our sustainability efforts and to convince them to start promoting our industry’s responsible agriculture and wine production in the market.  This will provide the pull to bring the rest of the growers into the fold.

To accomplish these lofty goals we need your help.  Our meteoric growth of the past two years has created the need to expand our administrative infrastructure, and to finally turn our poorly paid, part-time employee into a person with a full-time job and benefits.  These changes have created some fiscal challenges for the LIVE Board.  We hesitate to immediately raise dues and fees on our burgeoning new membership, lest they get discouraged.   So, the Board has decided to make this appeal to our affiliated wineries for help in keeping our organization in the black.  Your support is requested at the levels listed below.  We hope that we can count on your help! 

Our suggested 100% tax deductible winery support structure:

For wineries producing:

Less than 10,000 cases per year-$300
More than 10,000 cases per year-$500