By Lindsay Hoopes, Owner and Proprietor

With a mission of keeping small family businesses and vineyards viable for future generations, I have banded together with other Napa Valley farm owners and community members to establish the non-profit Save the Family Farms.

Meet some of the farming families fighting to stay in Napa Valley - click HERE to watch a short video.

Napa Valley was built on small family farms; many of which are multi-generational, passed down from parents to children for decades. Due to the county’s current permitting regulations, these small businesses are heavily restricted in getting their products in front of the consumer. Unable to host visitors at their vineyard and unable to participate in the wholesale distribution system because of their small batches, these micro-producers aren’t even given the chance to compete with bigger businesses. Developing a reputation for being corporate and elitist, Napa Valley isn’t offering consumers the opportunity to experience the region’s true brand diversity. Current regulations favor corporations and threaten the historic roots and soul of Napa. 

Help Napa Valley farmers save their land in 3 simple ways:

• VOTE

  • Join the cause and sign Save the Family Farms petition HERE

• DONATE

  • Save the Family Farms is a registered 501-c3 non-profit and all donations are tax-deductible. Contribute to this cause HERE

• SPREAD THE WORD

  • The creation of a Micro-Winery Ordinance starts with the Napa County Board of Supervisors. Napa County residents are encouraged to send an email directly to their Supervisor. Offering the convenience of a pre-written note, select your Supervisor and sign your name HERE

 Save the Family Farms wants to add a resolution to help micro-wineries find a pathway to offering tastings and allow them the chance to survive amongst the larger wineries in town. Resource strapped, almost 200 small family farms have sold to corporations in the last 5 years while many others have moved to Mendocino or Sonoma; wine-regions which allow consumers to visit vineyards, meet winemakers, interact with the family, and taste the wines. This initiative is critical for the success of Napa Valley, the success of the small farmer and the health of the environment as a whole. Join me, Lindsay Hoopes, and Save the Family Farms in being part of the solution.