NAPA VALLEY (California) REGISTER August 23, 2007 County: Vintner's farmworker camp is illegal By DAVID RYAN
Register Staff Writer Napa County prosecutors are going after what they allege is an illegally-established farmworker housing operation just south of Calistoga.
Prosecutors claim Thomas Kenefick, owner of Kenefick Ranch Winery and Kenefick Ranch Vineyards, is operating a farm worker housing operation built without permits.
Vague and brief court papers charge the buildings are “seriously substandard” violating “numerous” building code laws and have been used to house farmworkers for at least four years. Prosecutors allege the illegal camp is located at 2200 Pickett Road. What’s more, prosecutors allege Kenefick also violated unfair business practice laws in October 2006 by filling bins of grapes partially with less expensive grapes, then covering them with more expensive grapes and claiming to a weighmaster the entire bin was filled with the more expensive grape variety.
Daryl Roberts, county Deputy District Attorney, said he would not describe the allegations in more detail, other than to say the lawsuit is the result of a months-long investigation by the Agricultural Commissioner’s office and the Napa County Department of Environmental Management.
“It’s been going on for quite a while,” Roberts said.
Kenefick did not return phone calls today.
He faces a minimum $55,000 fine, according to court papers. Dave Whitmer, Napa County Agricultural Commissioner, said he could not describe his office’s involvement in the investigation, other than to say the office investigated the grape bin allegations.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever seen it happen here in Napa County,” he said. In the 1980s wine mogul Fred Franzia — now known for his "Two Buck Chuck" Charles Shaw wines — was caught for much the same practice in the San Joaquin Valley.
Whitmer said he expected wine bin fraud would be nonexistent in Napa Valley, where almost any grape variety can fetch a good price.
“It's not something that we see nor would we expect to see from growers,” he said. “They are producing a high end crop and selling it to wineries who are producing a high-end product.”
Steve Lederer, director of Napa County Environmental Management, said his department finds about one illegal housing operation per year. Napa County code actually encourages growers to provide housing for farmworkers, he said, but everything must be built up to code.
“We're not in the business of trying to discourage people from supplying farmworker housing ... but it has to be housing that meets the building and safety code,” he said.
Lederer said in many situations where illegal housing operations are found, the owner has converted a barn or shed to a living space — then must tear out additions like kitchens to comply with the law.
Court papers show the two sides are currently scheduled to meet in court in January. |