Specialty crop harvesting and controlled application equipment manufacturer Oxbo has struck a partnership with National Grape Research Alliance (NGRA).
Sep 27, 2024Oxbo joins grape group in equipment manufacturing partnership
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 trusted companies known for their research orientation, integrity and reputation to join the organization. No more than a dozen affiliate members will be brought aboard in 2024, according to a news release. Oxbo was nominated by Randy Heinzen, president of Vineyard Professional Services and an NGRA at-large board member. Vineyard Professional Services is also a long-time Oxbo customer. “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,” Heinzen said in the release. “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.” Cory Venable, director of marketing and sales for Oxbo’s fruit portfolio, said this in the release: “We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with the NGRA and contribute to the industry-leading research they support,” Venable said. “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 such dedicated professionals to drive innovation and excellence in the market.”
The Madera, California-based Oxbo 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.
“Oxbo equipment has empowered many grape scientists to find solutions to some of the grape and wine industry’s most critical viticultural challenges,” NGRA president Donnell Brown said in the release. “The company is an integral part of the grape research ecosystem. We are thrilled to count them as one of our very first affiliate members.”
About the National Grape Research Alliance
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. We connect 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. To learn more, visit graperesearch.org.
In its fruit portfolio, Oxbo supplies grape, berry, coffee, olive, pistachio, and tomato growers with harvesters and other specialty equipment.
With U.S. operations based in Madera, California, Oxbo provides grape, berry, tomato, pistachio, coffee and olive growers with harvesters and other specialty equipment. Headquartered in Roosendaal, Netherlands, Oxbo also works through manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France and Brazil.
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