Specialty Crop Block Grant will focus on marketing statewide certified sustainability program
SEATTLE (October 24, 2024)—The Washington State Wine Commission has been awarded a Specialty Crop Block Grant to be used for marketing Sustainable WA® both domestically and internationally. Sustainable WA® is Washington’s first statewide certified sustainability program for wine grapes. The grant is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service and administered by the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA).
“We’re excited that USDA and WSDA saw the value of our certified sustainability program, and we are eager to strategically utilize this grant to increase awareness of Sustainable WA® and Washington wines,” said Kristina Kelley, Executive Director of the Washington State Wine Commission.
The grant awards $250,000 over a two-year period beginning in October 2024. As part of the grant, the Washington State Wine Commission awarded a contract to Seattle-based creative marketing and advertising agency GreenRubino to assist in building a multi-pronged awareness campaign for Sustainable WA®.
“Up to this point, we’ve prioritized educating our industry about the benefits of Sustainable WA® and its importance in an ever-evolving wine market,” Kelley said. “This grant comes at the perfect time, as our Sustainable WA® labeled wines are being released more widely, to turn our focus to communicating directly with consumers, trade, and media.”
Sustainable WA® launched in 2022, signifying the Washington wine industry’s commitment to quality fruit, environmental stewardship, and healthy communities. As of 2024, about a third of the state’s wine grape acreage is enrolled in the program.
Sustainable WA® is a partnership between the Washington Winegrowers Association, the Washington State Wine Commission, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation, and the Washington Wine Institute, with oversight by an industry-led governance council and technical committee. The Wine Commission oversees all marketing and communications.
About Sustainable WA:
Sustainable WA covers the pillars of sustainability: environmentally sound, socially equitable, and economically viable. It is a rigorous, science-based program and built with continuous improvement in mind. Sustainable WA was built by and for the industry, specifically for Washington vineyards. It is a partnership between the Washington Winegrowers Association, the Washington State Wine Commission, the Washington Wine Industry Foundation, and the Washington Wine Institute, with oversight by an industry-led governance council and technical committee. To learn more, visit sustainablewa.com.
About the Washington State Wine Commission:
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, the mission of the WSWC is to drive growth of Washington Wine through Marketing, Communications, and Viticulture & Enology Research. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency, established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.
