LAKE COUNTY — The grape harvest begins soon at Clos Du Bois Vineyards in Sonoma County, and the picking will be done by the latest technology in the industry.
Increased labor scarcity and winemakers” demand for quality fruit on time demand that new technology be put to work in the local vineyards. Helping meet those goals is the new generation Oxbo Grape Harvester.
Built in America, by Oxbo International Corporation, the Model 6220 features trunk-shaking picking-head technology that smoothly completes the harvesting operation without touching the fruit, thereby preserving a high-quality product.
The Oxbo 6220 was purchased from Belkorp Ag, a family owned John Deere dealer with multiple California locations, including Santa Rosa, Calistoga and Ukiah. Six more Oxbo machines will be delivered by Belkorp Ag to several other North Coast area vineyards for the 2013 grape harvest.
Paul Pigoni, grape harvester expert from Belkorp Ag California North Coast, says the Oxbo 6220 is the perfect solution for many for local vineyard operations.
“The early harvest season combined with the scarce labor supply in our area place a premium on speed, efficiency and quality fruit, all of which the Oxbo 6220 has demonstrated that it can deliver,” Pigoni said.
Pigoni, who has more than 30 years of experience in the vineyard equipment business, says the Oxbo 6220 is the wave of the future in grape harvesting.
“With the acquisition of the Korvan brand, Oxbo has become the undisputed leader in vineyard mechanization products to reduce labor costs and deliver superior fruit quality,” Pigoni added, “Oxbo”s design engineers worked side-by-side with California vineyard operators to create a totally new machine, and then conducted a full year of field tests with a prototype machine before going into production with the Model 6220.”
Jim Mayfield, Belkorp Ag”s North Coast Regional Manager, says that all Oxbo products, along with John Deere equipment and other agricultural products, will be serviced in the field and in Belkorp Ag”s state-of-the-art shops by trained, experienced technicians.
Belkorp Ag is the combination of the former Rainbow Ag and West Cal Tractor John Deere dealerships which have, after being competitors for over 25 years, come together to create a new regional team serving the California north coast.
For additional information call Paul Pigoni at 975-8157 or email ppigoni@belkorpag.com or Jim Mayfield, Regional Manager of Belkorp at 489-0967 or email jmayfield@belkorpag.com. For information of the Oxbo 6220 visit www.oxbocorp.com.
