NEWS, VIEWS, AND INDUSTRY INSIGHT JANUARY– FEBRUARY 2020 Almonds Protein Powder Meet Your New on Parade! Launch Board Director Contents JAN–FEB 2020 8 FIELD TEAM 10 NEWS IN A NUTSHELL 16 CULTIVATING SUSTAINABILITY 20 CORNERING THE MARKET 24 ADVOCACY REPORT 28 GROWING THE GOODNESS 30 IN YOUR ORCHARD 50 CLASSIFIED ADS Features 6 President’s Corner 20 Blue Diamond Unveils New Almond President and CEO Mark Jansen shares what we Protein Powder have to look forward to in this new year and new Blue Diamond’s first new major product of 2020 decade, including the celebration of the co-op’s showcases the latest innovation offering consumers protein 110th anniversary. powder made with 100 percent pure almond protein. 14 Almonds on Parade 28 Meet Your New District 8 Board Director For the second year in a row, Blue Diamond brought its As a fifth generation farmer and third generation almond almond growing history to the life in the Rose Parade, grower, being part of the Blue Diamond family has been held New Year’s Day in Pasadena, California. memorable for Matthew Efird and his family. ON THE COVER: Blue Diamond growers represented the co-op and Almond Breeze brand at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2020 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS Dan Cummings, Chairman of the Board | Chico Dale Van Groningen, Vice Chairman | Ripon John Monroe | Arbuckle Kevin Fondse | Ripon Stephen Van Duyn | Modesto Charles Crivelli III | Turlock Dan Mendenhall | Winton Matthew Efird | Fresno Kent Stenderup | Arvin Joe Huston | Monterey OFFICERS Mark Jansen, President and CEO Dean LaVallee, Chief Financial Officer ALMOND FACTS STAFF Samantha DeMelo, Managing Editor Mel Machado, Contributing Photographer Gray Allen, Advertising Sales 916.783.4334 & 916.765.3234 Blue Diamond, the world’s largest processor and marketer of almonds, exports to over 100 countries. Almond Facts, established in 1922, is published bimonthly by Blue Diamond Growers, 1802 C Street, Sacramento, California 95811, phone: 916.442.0771. Address all correspondence to the Editor, Almond Facts, P.O. Box 1768, Sacramento, California 95812. Advertising subscription rates provided upon request. Blue Diamond is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Blue Diamond Growers. Other registered trademarks are The Almond People, Smokehouse, Golden State, Celebration, From the Valleys of California, Confetti and Almond Facts. Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication. Blue Diamond reserves the right to refuse advertising. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. ©Blue Diamond Growers 2020 AlmondFacts.com BlueDiamond.com EXPERTS IN AG. EXPERTS IN FINANCING. Buying, building, or making improvements, Call 800.800.4865 today American AgCredit is your agricultural real estate or visit AgLoan.com expert with great rates, flexible terms, and unique solutions tailored to your unique needs. A part of the Farm Credit System. Equal Opportunity Lender. PRESIDENT’S CORNER A New Year, A New Decade Happy New Year! It is the beginning of a new decade and continued optimism for Blue Diamond Growers. In 2020, we also celebrate the co-op’s 110th anniversary. It all started on May 6, 1910, with nine local organizations coming together to form the California Almond Growers Exchange. This was just the beginning. Now, the co-op is known around the world as Blue Diamond Growers and our brands stand for progress and innovation. 2020 is also my 10th year serving as your Given that this a particularly meaningful decade Mark Jansen President & CEO President and CEO. As I reflect on the past for Blue Diamond, I had the opportunity to sit decade, I’m proud of the results achieved by down with Ag Council of California President your Blue Diamond team. It is a privilege to Emily Rooney for a taping of their Capitol have had stewardship over a team that has Farm Connection podcast and share many demonstrated ever-increasing capability and great stories about our co-op. We discussed a desire to succeed in support of our growers. Blue Diamond’s long-term goals and what The Blue Diamond team has changed over the drives our commitment to be a growth business. years, but we’ve established a great system This guided the conversation to innovation, that fosters pride and collaboration amongst expansion of our facilities, global markets, and our team members. This system is moving our our leadership in the industry. The partnership business to the next level. between Blue Diamond and the Ag Council is more than 100 years strong, so I was honored For the upcoming year, we have established for this experience. goals that will continue to set our cooperative apart from the rest of the almond industry. Our As I hope you can see, we are excited to commitment to delivering industry-leading returns make this next decade the best one yet for is always a driving goal. We are also committed Blue Diamond Growers. Our 1,700 team to growing our brands, building on existing members come in each day knowing and strengths, and expanding into new markets for appreciating that they work for the most Blue Diamond. We aim to grow our sales of dedicated and innovative almond growers the value-added manufactured almond market in California. On behalf of our team, I wish through our almond ingredient sales and to you a happy, healthy, and successful 2020. expand our innovative product offerings, both We look forward to the future with every in the United States and abroad. For example, expectation that The Best is Yet to Come! take our launch of Blue Diamond® Almonds Protein Powder. This versatile product sets a new standard for consumers who are seeking delicious, plant-based products. By showcasing the benefits of almonds in innovative ways, we are building Blue Diamond’s reputation in the industry and Mark Jansen growing the demand for our products. President & CEO 6 ALMOND FACTS To hear Mark’s entire interview, visit the Ag Council’s Website at www.agcouncil.org/capitol-farm-connection-podcast NEWS INFIELD A NUTSHELL TEAM Regional Managers Mel Machado Tim Sanchez Christine Ivory KC Stone Director, Member Relations Colusa, Yolo, Solano, Tehama, Glenn, and Butte San Joaquin County East of Austin Rd, Cell: 209.531.6352 Yuba and Sutter Counties Counties South of Hwy 4, North of Stanislaus River; Stanislaus County South of Tuolumne River, Salida: 209.545.6222 Cell: 530.338.6440 Cell: 530.518.9109 [email protected] tsanchez bdgrowers.com West of Hwy 99 and East of San Joaquin @ [email protected] River; Merced County, North of Merced River, West of Hwy 99 Cell: 209.596.5375 [email protected] Brian Noeller Justin Elam Ernie Reichmuth Mike Griffin Stanislaus County South of Merced County from the San Joaquin County West of Southern Madera County South Tuolumne River, East of Hwy 99; Merced River to Hwy 140 San Joaquin River, South of of Avenue 18-1/2; Northern Fresno Merced County East of Hwy 99, Cell: 209.303.7306 Patterson; Merced County County North of Highway 180 South of Westside/Bellevue North of Westside/Bellevue Road [email protected] Cell: 559.779.6400 Road; Madera County North mgriffin bdgrowers.com Cell: 209.417.2010 of Avenue 18-1/2 @ [email protected] Cell: 559.474.2996 [email protected] Other Inquiries Michael Grindstaff Matt Willson Salida Membership Dept. Central Fresno County between Southern Tulare County, Phone: 209.545.6225 Highway 180 and Kamm Avenue South of Lindsay Highway; Fax: 209.545.6215 Kern County Cell: 559.470.9731 Sacramento Membership Dept. [email protected] Cell: 559.554.4118 [email protected] Phone: 916.446.8368 8 ALMOND FACTS 2020 Grower Liaison LEGEND DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 Chairman Gregory Watts Ron Tadlock Vice-Chairman Lyle Livingston Catherine L. Cain Ex-Officio Rick Pittenger Ronald Timothy Director Brian Erickson Analee Lauwerijssen Appointed (Member-at-Large) Fred Montgomery Charlie Marsh Almond Board Alternate Daniel Varner Zach Dennis Almond Board Director Greg Overton Leo LaGrande Almond Board Vice Chair Kevin Borror Sabrina Blickle Kevin Davis Michael F. Doherty John Nock Kelli Evans Raymond Antonowich Jim Peart Darren Rice Brook Bachmann Dan Cummings John Monroe W. Howard Isom Elaine Rominger P. Samantha Lewis Gerald Rominger Cathy Marsh DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 Joe Rishwain Lance Ioppini Michael Van Groningen Bob Holmes Stephen Schmiedt Nick Alta Garret Mussi Paul Adrian Kathy Thomsen Herman Doornenbal Steve Stanful Tom Christensen Clayton Bogetti Karen Javete Jim Thoming Jr. Jason Dole Michael M. Petz Will Drost Lloyd Van Dyken Wesley John Eisenga For Grower Liaison Bruce Oosterkamp Robin Giuntoli contact information, please Mike Bogetti Joe Gasper contact your regional manager. Dale Van Groningen Kevin Fondse John Thoming ’09 Kenneth Roos Greg Kamper DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT 8 DISTRICT 9 Nick Blom Greg Reichmuth Mario Bandoni George Goshgarian Jr. Thom Gruber Gordon Heinrich Rick Alvernaz Scott Abraham Paramjit Singh Craig Fulwyler Jeff Erickson Allen Peterson Galen K. Miyamoto Joey Biscay Jeff Parsons Brum DeVisser Patrick Romero Joe Sansoni Norman Pretzer Gurcharan Dhillon Brandon Riddle Dirk Van Konynenburg Daniel L. Clendenin Bruce Chapman Ben Wilson Mark Giannini David Richmond John Pereira Gary Thompson Karam Guron Dennis Bowers John Hack Rodney Voumard Baljit Boparai Jason Dhillon Neil Jolliff Scott Long David Passadori Tom Chandler Ryan Clark Jack Hoekstra Richard Gemperle Jim Snyder David Massaro David Snell Sonny Johns David M Genzoli Victor Yamamoto Jerry Rai John Allen Sid Miller Paul Lara Bobby Deol Anthony Basila Don Davis Gary Darpinian Darryl Starn Kevin Hall Dan Wattenbarger Chris Vandborg Stephen Van Duyn Charles Crivelli III Dan Mendenhall Matthew Efird Kent Stenderup Neil Van Duyn Steve Vilas Robert J. Weimer Aldo Sansoni Clinton Shick Bill Brush ’02 Rick Scoto Ranbir Grewal Kyle Balakian Tim A.