Cork Supply Concludes Educational Cork Harvesting Events at Cal Poly and UC Davis, Launches Scholarship Program to Portugal

Cork Supply, a leading provider of high-quality corks and closures for the wine industry, has announced the successful conclusion of its Cork Harvesting events at California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) and the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). These educational initiatives were designed to provide next-generation cork education to students, enhancing their understanding of sustainable practices and the significance of cork in the wine industry.

Peter Hladun, CEO of Cork Supply in North America, emphasized the importance of educating future winemakers and wine consumers about the unique properties of natural cork. "Having the opportunity to host these cork harvesting events at esteemed wine education universities is a perfect fit to bring the two together," Hladun said. "Natural cork is the most sustainable product a winemaker can choose to close their wine with, and it has a direct impact on helping our environment."

The events, held on May 28th at Cal Poly and May 30th at UC Davis, were met with enthusiastic participation from students, faculty, and industry professionals. Attendees experienced hands-on cork harvesting, learning about the intricate processes involved in producing this essential component for wine and spirits closures.

Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong expressed his enthusiasm for the event, calling it a "unique Learn by Doing opportunity" for students and faculty. David E. Block, Ph.D., Professor of Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis, highlighted the significance of the experience, noting that students typically need to travel to Portugal to witness a cork harvest in person. "We are very appreciative that Cork Supply was willing to bring their artisans to Davis for our students and our larger community," Block added.

Highlights of the Cork Harvesting Events:

• Hands-On Harvesting Experience: Students and attendees gained practical knowledge about sustainable harvesting techniques used to ensure the health and longevity of cork oak trees.
• Fascinating Cork Harvest Facts: Participants learned several intriguing facts about cork harvesting, including that corkwood is gently harvested every nine years without damaging the trees, which can live up to 200 years and be harvested multiple times.

Cork harvesting is predominantly done by hand from June through August, and a cork tree will start producing cork for wine stoppers beginning with its third harvest. Additionally, the job of a cork harvester is one of the highest-paying agricultural jobs in the world.

Building on the success of these events, Cork Supply has announced the Cork Supply Scholarship program. This initiative aims to support students pursuing careers in the wine industry by sending ten students from seven different countries to Portugal. Greg Hirson, Global Director of Innovation for Cork Supply, explained that the scholarship program will allow students to see the cork harvest, learn about cork production, and network with peers in similar programs. The first scholarship winners traveled to Portugal in late June.

Cork Supply’s educational and scholarship initiatives align with its "Harvesting for the Future" strategy, which focuses on better business practices, including GHG emissions reduction, efficient use of raw materials, and the incorporation of cork manufacturing by-products into innovative new products.

With a commitment to continuous learning, research and development, social responsibility, and sustainability, Cork Supply continues to uphold its promise: trusted from forest to bottle.