SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is announcing a vacancy on the Pierce’s Disease/Glassy-winged Sharpshooter Board.

The board includes representatives from each of the major grape growing regions in the state; the current vacancy must be filled by a winegrape producer from the North Valley area who is not also a winegrape processor.

The North Valley region includes the counties of Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Glenn, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Yolo and Yuba.

The board was established in July 2001 to support scientific research to find a cure for Pierce’s disease, which affects grape vines and other plants.

An annual assessment paid by winegrape growers supports its research efforts. The board advises the CDFA secretary on a variety of issues pertaining to Pierce’s disease and the glassy-winged sharpshooter.

Board members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.

Individuals interested in being considered for an appointment to the committee should send a brief resume by Friday, January 20, 2012 to the CDFA Pierce’s Disease Control Program, Attention: Kapua Kahumoku, 2800 Gateway Oaks, Suite 200, Sacramento, CA 95833.