Harvest 2026 Best Practices for Napa Valley Growers

​Harvest is the culmination of a year's work in the vineyard, and it remains one of the most intense and rewarding times of the season. Success hinges on preparation, communication, and above all, safety. For 2026, the Napa Valley Grapegrowers encourages members to revisit core best practices and stay informed on regulatory developments to ensure that harvest runs smoothly and sustainably.

Pre-Harvest Planning and Communication

• Winery Coordination: Confirm harvest dates and delivery times well in advance. Establish who makes the “harvest call” and at what metrics (°Brix or other criteria).
• Delivery Logistics: Communicate bin or trailer types, load sizes, and vehicle limitations. Provide full contact information for both grower and winery reps.
• Neighbor Consideration: Minimize noise, dust, and light pollution, especially during night harvest. Share schedules with neighbors when possible to reduce disruptions

​Equipment Readiness

• ​Inspections: Ensure tractors, trailers, forklifts, and trucks are serviced, registered, and inspected before harvest. Pay special attention to brakes, tires, and lighting.
• Load Safety: Weigh bins when possible, secure all loads with proper tie-downs, and use tarps as needed for weather protection or compliance.
• Sanitation: Clean picking pans, containers, and vehicle interiors daily to protect fruit quality and food safety

​Worker Health and Safety

• ​Fatigue and Wellness: Encourage rest, hydration, and balanced meals, especially during consecutive night harvests. Provide water and individual drinking vessels in the field.
• Sanitation Access: Supply clean portable restrooms stocked with soap, water, and paper products.
• Training Records: Maintain documentation of crew training, including safe equipment use, picking criteria, and hazard awareness.

Heat Illness Prevention

California's heat illness standards remain in effect for 2026 and continue to apply across both outdoor and indoor operations.

• Outdoor Standard (Title 8, Section 3395): Requires access to shade, fresh drinking water, cool-down rest breaks, training, and acclimatization procedures for all outdoor worksites.
• Indoor Standard (Title 8, Section 3396): Applies where indoor temperatures reach 82°F, with additional requirements at higher thresholds. Relevant for growers with indoor sorting, crush, or processing operations.
• Watch for changes: On August 14, 2026, Cal/OSHA released a discussion draft that would align the indoor and outdoor heat standards, expand high-heat procedures to more agricultural operations, add acclimatization requirements for new and returning employees, and recognize rhabdomyolysis as a heat illness condition. This is a draft, not a final regulation. The public comment period runs through September 21, 2026. NVG will share updates as this rulemaking progresses, and members are welcome to submit comments directly to Cal/OSHA.

Wildfire Smoke ProtectionNapa's wildfire season overlaps directly with harvest, making this a standing part of every crew's safety plan.

• Trigger Point: Cal/OSHA's Wildfire Smoke Regulation (Title 8, Section 5141.1) applies when the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 reaches 151 or greater and exposure can reasonably be anticipated.
• Monitoring: Check AQI at the start of each shift and periodically thereafter, using resources like the EPA's AirNow site.
• Response: When triggered, employers must inform crews of current AQI and protective measures, and where feasible, relocate work to a filtered indoor space or an outdoor location with lower AQI.
• Respiratory Protection and Training: Provide N95 or similar respirators for voluntary use when relocation isn't feasible, and train crews on the health effects of wildfire smoke and proper respirator use.

Wildfire Smoke Protection

Napa's wildfire season overlaps directly with harvest, making this a standing part of every crew's safety plan.

• Trigger Point: Cal/OSHA's Wildfire Smoke Regulation (Title 8, Section 5141.1) applies when the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 reaches 151 or greater and exposure can reasonably be anticipated.
• Monitoring: Check AQI at the start of each shift and periodically thereafter, using resources like the EPA's AirNow site.
• Response: When triggered, employers must inform crews of current AQI and protective measures, and where feasible, relocate work to a filtered indoor space or an outdoor location with lower AQI.
• Respiratory Protection and Training: Provide N95 or similar respirators for voluntary use when relocation isn't feasible, and train crews on the health effects of wildfire smoke and proper respirator use.

Night Harvest Safety

• Lighting Standards: All equipment operated between sunset and sunrise must have headlights and rear lights illuminating at least 50 feet. Supplemental task lighting must meet Cal/OSHA's minimum foot-candle requirements at the work surface.
• High-Visibility Gear: Cal/OSHA requires Class 2 high-visibility garments (ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 compliant) for all night work employees.
• Communication: Supervisors must conduct a safety meeting before each shift to review hazards, break areas, and communication procedures. Provide radios or cell phones for workers assigned independently.
• Emergency Preparedness: Have a site-specific emergency response plan with clear meeting points and visible landmarks to guide responders at night. Report all serious injuries to Cal/OSHA within 8 hours, regardless of the time of day.

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​Compliance and Documentation

• Delivery Tags: Complete accurate paperwork for each load, including date, time, ranch, variety, and driver details.
• ​Quarantine Considerations: Carry required papers when traveling through restricted agricultural zones.
• OSHA Reporting: Serious injuries and illnesses must be reported to Cal/OSHA immediately, with the 24/7 reporting line available statewide.