Oxbo, specialist in harvesting and controlled application equipment, has been selected to join the inaugural class of affiliate members of the National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA), an industry-led nonprofit organization that aligns the priorities for research for the U.S. grape and wine industry.
For the first time in its nearly 20-year history, NGRA this year is opening a new level of membership offered only to select service and equipment providers, or industry affiliates, by invitation only. NGRA members chose companies known for their research orientation and strong reputation for excellence to join the organization. No more than a dozen affiliate members will be brought aboard in 2024.
Oxbo was nominated by Randy Heinzen, President of Vineyard Professional Services (VPS) and an At-Large Board Member for the NGRA.
“In this difficult winegrape market, VPS believes the path to success involves focusing on quality and innovation. Innovation is pushed through organizations like NGRA, while quality is enhanced through using superior technology and automation, including the Oxbo select-sort machine harvesters,” said Heinzen. “Oxbo’s inclusion as a NGRA partner is a natural fit for VPS’s goals of producing the best winegrapes possible through integrating the most recent science with the best tools for the job.”
“Oxbo equipment has empowered many grape scientists to find solutions to some of the grape and wine industry’s most critical viticultural challenges,” said NGRA President Donnell Brown. “The company is an integral part of the grape research ecosystem. We count them as one of our very first affiliate members.”
“We are grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the NGRA and contribute to the industry-leading research they support,” said Cory Venable, Director of Marketing & Sales for Oxbo’s fruit portfolio. “It’s truly exciting to be part of an organization that is making a significant impact on the grape and wine industry. We look forward to bringing our expertise to the table and working alongside dedicated professionals to drive innovation and excellence in the market.”
In its fruit portfolio, Oxbo supplies grape, berry, coffee, olive, pistachio, and tomato growers with harvesters and other specialty equipment.
The National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA) is a nonprofit membership organization representing the research needs of all sectors and all regions of the American grape and wine industry, spanning wine, table grapes, juice and raisins, nationwide. The NGRA connects industry, scientists, and federal and state research agencies to initiate novel research projects and programs to solve industry challenges together. Since its founding in 2005, NGRA has been instrumental in securing funding of $65 million and counting for scientific solutions to grape and wine industry issues.
