Cooperative Extension Viticulture and Tree Fruit Area Advisor - Serving Sacramento, Yolo, and S

Application Window

Open date: December 5, 2025

Next review date: Saturday, Jan 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Mar 31, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The University of California, Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) invites applications for a UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) Viticulture and Tree Fruit Area Advisor at the Assistant rank serving Sacramento, Yolo, and Solano Counties. The Advisor will develop an innovative applied research and extension education program focused on viticulture (wine grapes) and pomological crops (oil olives, pears, and other minor fruit crops) across the three‑county area.

The Viticulture and Tree Fruit Area Advisor will provide leadership on critical issues impacting the area's wine grape and tree fruit industries, including climate adaptation strategies, pest management practices, production efficiency, sustainability improvements, and labor‑saving technological innovations. The Advisor will work closely with local growers, commodity and grower groups such as local wine grape grower associations, and Farm Bureaus. They will develop collaborative teams with other UC ANR academics, including UCCE Advisors and Specialists, to address priority issues for clientele and UC ANR.

UCCE Advisors are responsible for applied research and extension of knowledge. Research activities are applied, needs‑based, and mission‑oriented, focusing on addressing the challenges in our communities. Extension activities are educational practices that Advisors use to share research results directly with clientele and communities, increasing their knowledge and understanding of science‑based research that supports and promotes the adoption of practices and technologies to solve problems.

Extension methods may include individual consultations, presentations, organizing educational workshops and short courses, field demonstrations, and site visits. Information may also be disseminated via radio outreach, webinars, fact sheets, policy briefs, news blogs, and social media. Publications are expected in various formats, including newsletters, popular press articles, curricula, conference proceedings, and peer‑reviewed publications.

Successful research and extension programs result in new information that improves knowledge or understanding, the adoption of new skills, practices, attitudes, and policies, and improved environmental, health, economic, and/or social conditions. UCCE Advisors are evaluated through an academic advancement system based on four criteria: extending knowledge; applied research and creative activity; professional competence and activity; and university and public service.

The position will be headquartered at the UCCE Sacramento County office at 4145 Branch Center Road, Sacramento, CA. The three counties served encompass the UC Cooperative Extension Capitol Corridor Unit.

The wine grape and olive industries have become significant contributors to the three‑county area economy over the last decade, while pears have maintained a steady presence with deep historical roots. The Capitol Corridor now contains 15 American Viticultural Areas, and its wine grape acreage has increased 50% in the last decade, growing to 61,000 acres from 39,000 in 2010. Simultaneously, wine grape values have increased 90%, and remain the highest‑grossing commodity in Sacramento County, the second highest in Solano, and the fifth in Yolo.

Olive production in the three‑county area has grown from almost zero acres in 2010 to 8,300 acres, producing oil valued at $14 million as of 2022.

Despite this growth, climate change threatens these industries in multiple ways, including warmer winters with decreased chilling hours, shifting pest and disease pressures, variable rainfall, and extreme weather events. These factors increase risk and uncertainty for growers but also create opportunities for…