Sustainability

Continued sustainability is an important topic around the Pandol Vineyards. As more 4th generation Pandol growers enter the business, the necessity of continuing sustainable practices has never been more evident. Sixty years of farming much of the same land in the Delano region has been possible due to our environmental stewardship and sustainable farming practices. Long term and daily decisions are made with serious consideration for the future of our Employees, land, vines, air, and environment. Below is a list of some specific strategies we are utilizing in our commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Water Management
	Drip irrigation.
	Surface water / ground water conservation and recharge.
	Managed water supply for today as well as for future years.
Energy Management
	The usage of thoughtfully designed packaging reduces pre-cooling time therefore saving energy.
	Ongoing program to install pallet racks in all cold storage rooms to increase capacity resulting in energy savings.
	Maximize use of surface water to reduce the energy used for pumping ground water
	Replacement of Diesel pumps with Natural Gas Pumps.
Waste Management
	Remove vineyard stakes and wire are recycled, the stumps are ground up for compost. Everything removed is reused, recycled or returned to the soil.
	All pruned canes and other vegetative waste are ground up and returned back into the soil thus eliminating burning and landfill usage.
	Integrated pest management reduces the amount of chemical inputs.
	New “softer” chemicals and organic pesticides are being evaluated and utilized.
	Biodegradable corn based clamshells (PLA) are being tested in 2007.
	Increased use of recyclable packaging.