Grossman added that the union would be hesitant to divert its attention to single out individual offenders.

"I'm reluctant to call anyone to task, since we're not actively promoting the boycott," he said. "But I think it would be well for people to remember the abuse and betrayal of grape workers by this industry that led to the grape boycott, since those abuses and that betrayal continue."

According to Grossman, only 300 grape workers--less than 1 percent of the grape industry in California--are currently members of the UFW. The boycott applies to all California table grapes not picked by these workers.

Grape Expectations

Despite continuing criticism from UFW leaders, grape growers argue that they have made significant strides since the first boycotts in 1965.

Mark Givens, an operating manager at Corrin--which supplies 75 percent of Costa's grapes--said California growers have responded to many union demands.

"I think you've got sanitation requirements that you didn't have in the '60s, you now have laws about working conditions and sanitation and toilets in the field and cleaning facilities to wash your hands," Givens said. "You have legal requirements on pay and overtime that didn't exist for farm workers in the '60s. The laws in California were changed."

But union leaders disagree, citing the poor conditions still prevalent in California vineyards.

"The reasons why Cesar Chavez began the third boycott in 1984 are still valid--nothing has changed," Grossman said. "Grape workers who have organized under the UFW have been intimidated, physically attacked and harassed [by] grape growers who refuse to bargain in good faith for union contracts. Wages are poor, benefits are few if not non-existent. Workers frequently complain they're treated like animals by foremen and labor contractors."

According to Grossman, one of Costa's suppliers, the Guimarra Vineyard Corporation in Bakersfield, Calif., has a 30-year history of conflict with the union.

"Giumarra is the 'South Africa' of the table grape industry," Grossman said. "They apply cancer-causing and birth defect-causing pesticides to their vineyards that grape workers come in contact with."

Givens said that the alleged threat of pesticide poisoning "didn't exist" based "on any scientific examination."

But Woodgate said that the contribution in Guimarra was just less than 1 percent of its total stock.

No Sour Grapes Here

But many Harvard students are focusing on the novelty to be added to the menu.

"I'm excited about grapes--grapes are cool," said Mikhail S. Ulinich '99. "I just hope they're seedless."

In fact, according to Givens, Corrin "specializes in seedless grapes"--85 percent of their grape business is seedless