The introductory viticulture course of the Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program has been so successful that the community college leaders and industry partner, the Washington Association of Wine Grape Growers, are now working to offer an advanced viticulture course this fall. Since the viticulture program’s inception three years ago, the viticulture class of the HOEEP has graduated about 45 students. The viticulture class, patterned after Wenatchee Valley College’s hispanic orchard employee program, represents a unique partnership between Washington’s grape industry and Wenatchee and Yakima community colleges. Wenatchee college instructors Leo Garcia and Francisco Sarmiento traveled each week to teach the […]