The Almond Alliance is happy to see the Senate take the next steps in addressing the supply chain crisis, and thank the bill sponsors for their leadership. We continue to work with partners and members of the Senate as this bill moves to address unreasonable ocean carrier practices that are undermining U.S. export competitiveness, and having a direct effect on our farmers, food supply, and communities.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and John Thune, R-S.D., on Thursday introduced the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (S. 3580), the Senate response to the House version (H.R. 4996) passed by a wide bipartisan vote (364–60) in December.
Farm groups and other industries have complained bitterly that ships coming to the West Coast from Asia are going back to China and other countries empty to pick up more consumer goods to be sold in the United States, while not picking up the U.S. products that they would normally take to Asian consumers.
A trade association executive said the Senate bill “in some instances, is stronger than the House bill; however, aspects of it remain weaker as well. If passed, it will improve the overall supply chain situation in the future and help to build greater resilience against bottlenecks.”
Both Klobuchar and Thune are members of the Senate Commerce Committee.
In a news release, Klobuchar said the Senate bill “would address these supply chain challenges by making it harder for ocean carriers to arbitrarily turn away goods at ports that are ready to be shipped abroad. It would also give the Federal Maritime Commission, the federal agency responsible for the regulation of oceanborne transportation, greater authority to regulate harmful practices by carriers.”
In her summary of the bill, Klobuchar said it would:
In his summary, Thune said the bill would:
Also joining as original cosponsors of the bill were Sens. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; John Hoeven, R-N.D.; Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Roger Marshall, R-Kan.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Jerry Moran, R-Kan.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.; Todd Young, R-Ind.; Mark Kelly, D-Ariz.; Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn.; Cory Booker, D-N.J.; and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.
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Since the 1940’s, the California Walnut Board (CWB) has helped drive industry growth and development with marketing and research programs. California walnut growers recently voted to continue their marketing order, which means the Board will continue its efforts to advance the industry and drive demand for walnuts. The continuance referendum vote was held from December 6-31, 2021 for eligible growers and is required by its Federal Marketing Order every six years.
“The vote represents the California walnut industry’s confidence in the Board and the many programs it implements,” said Bill Toss, CWB Executive Committee Chairman. “As a Board, our mission is to cultivate industry prosperity through walnut promotion, education, and research. While the industry has faced headwinds, we benefit from Board-funded marketing and research programs that deliver results to our growers and handlers, as well as the centralized structure it provides.”
Programs funded by the CWB in recent years have included in-store supermarket promotions to drive sales, innovative production/post-harvest research to help growers and handlers stay competitive, and collecting and reporting data to enable a cohesive place for all industry members to get statistics.
“We are honored that this vote will allow the Board to continue working to benefit industry,” said Michelle Connelly, Executive Director of the California Walnut Board. “The efforts by growers and handlers, in partnership with staff, to drive consumption and improve production practices are proof positive that we are stronger together to address both current and future business opportunities and challenges. We can often do more together than one operation can do on its own.”
Tos added “on behalf of the Board, we are very grateful that growers acknowledged the important work that has been done and are committed to continuing these efforts moving forward.”
Looking ahead, the CWB will continue to update the Federal Marketing Order rules governing inspections to increase efficiencies and address market disruptions. In September, the CWB voted to suspend the mandatory outbound inspections of walnuts to mitigate market disruptions like labor shortages or shipping constraints, while reducing redundancies. While this referendum vote confirms grower wishes to continue the CWB’s walnut promotional efforts, assessments will not be collected until the completion of the order revision process.
Growers who want to learn more about how the CWB is doing more for the walnut industry are encouraged to sign up for newsletters to hear directly from the Board, follow its social channels on LinkedIn and GrowCAWalnuts on Facebook, and learn more at walnuts.org/walnut-industry.
About the California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board (CWB) was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.
California Farmland Trust (CFT) is proud to announce the recent permanent protection of 253 acres of almonds in Merced County, owned by The Myers Irrevocable Flying M Ranch Trust.
Established in the 1950s, Flying M Ranch began farming and ranching in the area of Merced, plentiful with rich agricultural soils and riparian areas. As generations of the Myers family have taken over the operation, they have remained focused on their farming roots and ways to be leaders in facing agriculture’s most persistent challenges, including the preservation of vital natural resources.
This 253-acre property placed in an agricultural conservation easement (ACE) with CFT is one of the many conservation easements protecting the working landscapes of Flying M Ranch. Approximately 5,900 acres of grazing land on their farm has been preserved through other conservation organizations, and the Myers are actively pursuing another ACE with CFT.
“The idea of putting a conservation easement on the property was to keep the ranch in a perpetual state, and we like the idea of keeping it continuous,” said Wes Myers, Flying M Ranch Trust co-trustee. “CFT understands farming and ranching, which is why we chose to work with them on this project.”
Funding for this conservation project was provided through the Agricultural Land Mitigation Program (ALMP), which is administered by Department of Conservation (DOC) on behalf of the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
“The growth pressure from the City of Merced and even surrounding communities like Planada, in combination with the Myers desire to be stewards of the land, are all contributing factors that make this farm a quality project for permanent protection,” said Chelsea Slaton, conservation director at CFT. “Given the resources and geographical features of this farm, protecting this property will help sustain long-term production of agricultural commodities for years to come, and we commend the Myers for their stewardship.”
CFT’s portfolio of protected farmland is most prevalent in Merced County and Flying M Ranch adds to these efforts. CFT has now protected 11,669 acres of farmland on 36 farms in Merced County.
Almond Board of California — Today, the California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) issued a Section 18 SPECIFIC exemption for the use of Kasumin 2L to control bacterial blast in almonds. The exemption is effective February 1, 2022 through April 15, 2022. In the announcement, DPR advised operations to use the chemical number for kasugamycin (6197) for their “Restricted Material Permit Program.”
The approval applies to the counties of Butte, Colusa, Fresno, Glenn, Madera, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Yolo and Yuba.
Growers interested in this application are heavily encouraged to reference the Almond Board of California’s Honey Bee Best Management Practices as well as the Quick Guide for Applicators (in English & Spanish) to ensure pollinator health is maintained. As stated in these practices, growers should only use applications when absolutely necessary and should only make applications in the late afternoon or evening, when bees and pollen are not present.
Please contact your local County Ag Commissioner’s office for further details if interested in using this product. This emergency exemption may also be viewed on the DPR website at http://apps.cdpr.ca.gov/section18.
Visit the California Department of Food and Agriculture website for a full list of County Ag Commissioners’ offices as well as contact information for each.
The Almond Board of California is gearing up for the 2022 Board of Directors Election. While formal election announcements will be distributed next month, the Almond Board wanted to provide an update on open positions for this year’s election. This year, there are four open positions: two independent grower positions, one independent handler position and one cooperative handler position. Along with these four positions are also four corresponding alternate positions open for the election. (To note: Only independent positions are part of the general election, as the cooperative selects its own representatives.)
The Board of Directors guide the work of the almond industry’s federal marketing order (the Almond Board) and has led the California industry in the adoption of innovative research programs, expanding demand-building initiatives ahead of increasing supply, and leading through challenges to the industry’s reputation. Representing over 7,600 growers and approximately 100 handlers across the state, the Almond Board is responsible for establishing policy, recommending budgets and programs to the Secretary of Agriculture for approval, and reviewing program results and effectiveness.
Currently, nearly 200 active almond industry members volunteer to serve on ABC’s Board, Board-appointed committees, subcommittees and working groups. Getting involved provides an opportunity to help shape future successes, ensuring consumers and stakeholders support the industry’s vision that California almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow.
If you are interested in learning more about running for a position on the Board of Directors, please contact ABC’s Toni Arellano at tarellano@almondboard.com. — Almond Board of California
Almond Board of California — Health remains the No. 1 motivator for European consumers to snack on almonds. But in a market leading the globe in environmental legislation and initiatives, there’s a new breed of eco-savvy consumers emerging who are turning their attention to how their food is produced and the impact it has on the planet.
At The Almond Conference 2021 in December, a panel of marketing and regulatory experts from the Almond Board of California and other organizations discussed some of the key trends in Europe.
The United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy are the major markets for California almonds on the continent. Together with the other European Union countries, they account for about 25% of global almond shipments each year. Europeans consume about as many almonds annually as the United States, but the markets are much different and the strategies for reaching consumers reflect that.
“How food is produced is important to EU consumers,” said Christine Lott, senior brand manager for international consumers for Blue Diamond Growers. “They are very discerning about the food they eat. Taste is still king, but where it’s from and how it’s produced is a becoming a big factor in their purchasing decisions.”
Kath Martino, who helps manage and implement marketing campaigns in the EU, said there are four primary consumer trends evident in Europe.
The European market is far from monolithic. There are distinct differences in consumer behavior and expectations within the four markets ABC focuses on. Though health remains a core message throughout Europe, “We approach it differently in each market
so we can meet consumers where they are,” said Laura Morin, a managing director and partner of Sterling-Rice Group, which works with the Almond Board on marketing campaigns in Europe.
In the United Kingdom, for instance, ABC launched a marketing campaign in 2020 called “Do You Almond?” The integrated campaign involved out-of-home advertising, video on-demand TV, digital and social and most recently, the Almond Board partnered with 12 influencers on a series of fun and humorous videos and ads depicting how they “nail it like a natural” powered by their favorite snack – almonds.
Whether it be a daring kite surfing trick, a round of one-handed pull-ups, a labor-intensive landscape project or even parenting, influencers showed how almonds help energize them for their daily activities.
In Germany, marketing efforts portray almonds as a smart snack bursting with beauty benefits and energy. The “Snack the Sun” campaign features images of sunny California and emphasizes that almonds are a healthy and vibrant snack.
In France, almonds have continued to gain a foothold as a healthy snack in a market where snacking has not been considered “a norm” until the past decade. A new ad campaign that will debut this spring will build upon that trend. The ads will focus on how almonds can help people recharge during the day as well as position the nut as a source of long-lasting energy.
Of the markets ABC tracks, Italian consumers eat more almonds per capita than any other country in the world. “Italians are on the move and on the go, and they need a food that matches their busy lifestyle,” Morin said. ABC’s “Recharge Your Day” marketing campaign seeks to reinforce almonds’ popularity as a snack providing a natural source of energy that Italians can eat at any time.
Europe is an important and influential piece of the global almond market. Twice as many almond-related products were introduced in Europe in 2019 compared to anywhere else in the world. The EU introduced more new almond products than anywhere else in the world in six key categories: Confectionary, bakery, bars, snacks, cereal and dairy.
Gathering, analyzing and acting upon reliable consumer information will be an important part of ensuring that people in the EU appreciate not just the health benefits of almonds, but also are aware that California growers are committed to environmental and sustainability practices that Europeans demand.
“Even as the world paused for COVID, we didn’t,” Morin said of data-driven marketing efforts in the EU. “We spread the word about the benefits of eating almonds as a healthy, sustainable part of a diet.”
What’s next in Europe? Dariela Roffe-Rackind, who manage ABC’s marketing campaigns there, cited these three areas:
The California Walnut Board (CWB) and California Walnut Commission (CWC) is searching for a new CEO/Executive Director as Michelle Connelly, who currently holds the position, has resigned. Connelly’s last day will be February 11, 2022.
“We are grateful for Michelle’s years of service to our industry. During her nearly 18 years with the CWB and CWC, Michelle led a strong team of professionals that proudly serve our walnut industry and achieved numerous milestones and successes,” said Bill Tos, Chair of the CWB Executive Committee and Bill Carriere, Chair, of the CWC Executive Committee.
In a letter to Board and Commission, the chairmen highlighted several accomplishments during Connelly’s tenure, including:
· Modernization of the Marketing Order to deliver more for the Walnut industry while eliminating outdated provisions.
· Creation of sustainability work to demonstrate the industry’s good environmental stewardship practices and to support the industry in answering consumer and regulatory expectations.
· An overall marketing program return on investment of 14:1, eclipsing the 6:1 benchmark ROI for similar commodity programs.
· Expansion of industry communications to further engage with growers/processors, including 2021’s inaugural walnut conference collaboration.
· Increased advocacy efforts to raise walnuts visibility among lawmakers to support walnut growers’ and handlers’ ability to produce, process and trade.
· Creation of a strategic roadmap to market for growth domestically and internationally.
“It has been a privilege, honor and pleasure to serve the growers and handlers of the California walnut industry. I am beyond proud of what this team has accomplished, and I am confident in the industry’s sustained success,” said Connelly.
In sharing the news, the chairmen reiterated the efforts of the California Walnut Board and California Walnut Commission are critically important to the success of the industry.
“The CWB leads the way in helping to increase the understanding of walnuts benefits, expand walnut usage occasions, solve for production and post-harvest challenges, and identify new opportunities for growth and prosperity for California walnut growers and handlers,” said Tos. “The California Walnut Commission plays a vital role in global market expansion and consumption, conducting nutrition research to address public health issues, and advocating for walnut growers and handlers to lawmakers,” added Carriere.
A search committee has been formed that will identify a firm to assist with the search process in the coming weeks.
About the California Walnut Board
The California Walnut Board (CWB) was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The CWB is funded by mandatory assessments of the handlers. The CWB is governed by a Federal Walnut Marketing Order. The CWB promotes usage of walnuts in the United States through publicity and educational programs. The CWB also provides funding for walnut production, food safety and post-harvest research.
About the California Walnut Commission
The California Walnut Commission, established in 1987, is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. The CWC represents over 4,800 growers and approximately 90 handlers (processors) of California walnuts in export market development activities and conducts health research. The CWC is an agency of the State of California that works in concurrence with the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA).