Based in Visalia, California, Nash-De Camp owns 1,000 acres of vineyards in Delano, California, as well as vineyards in Chile, and acts as grower, a packer, and a shipper of grapes under the Sunpower brand name. It handles almost 70 million pounds of grapes a year--two-thirds from California, and the remainder from Chile.

According to Stephen C. Biswell, president and CEO of Nash-De Camp, the company has recognized the UFW as the "certified bargaining unit" between management and its workers for the past 15 years.

Although talks with the UFW broke down 12 years ago, the company resumed discussions with the union two years ago and signed an agreement this November, Biswell said.

During the period without union representation, Biswell said, the company decided to give raises to all of its workers without pressure from the UFW. Its workers are now paid about $7 per hour, in contrast to wages of $5.50 per hour common in other vineyards, and usually work no more than nine hours per day, said Biswell.

He added that Nash-De Camp's labor practices haven't changed significantly as a result of the recent agreement with the union.

"Because of the way we have operated, and because of the laws out here in California, there's not too many things that change for us," Biswell said. "We direct the workers, they harvest the grapes, and they're able to put together a good box of grapes."

Biswell said Nash-De Camp workers enjoyed good working conditions, but added that "most of the Delano ranches are all very similar, whether they're union or non-union."

"Restrooms are present, [and] there are clean water facilities to wash hands," Biswell said. "All the workers are provided the tools that they need to perform the task that they have."

Nash-De Camp workers also receive health insurance, a pension plan fully paid by the company, a vacation plan and holiday pay, Biswell said.

Nash-De Camp does use pesticides, Biswell said, including one of the five pesticides targeted by the UFW boycott--methyl bromide--but said workers would not come in contact with the poison.

"Methyl bromide is not applied to grapes in the field," he said. "Methyl bromide is only used to fumigate a bare field before you plant it."

According to Grossman, the UFW still has some concerns about its contract with Nash-De Camp.

Although Nash-De Camp's workers are all UFW members, and hence any grapes they pick are exempt from the boycott, the company also acts as a distributor for grapes picked by other growers, all of whom employ non-UFW workers.

"It's something we need to work out," Grossman said.

Grossman added that he thought the issue would be resolved quickly.