The conversion to organic can take three to four years for pistachio growers, but it has significant potential as the market grows. Leading these efforts is Setton Farms, the largest producer of organic pistachios in America. Setton COO Mia Cohen recently spoke with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to discuss the recent trends in marketing and the industry. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Category: Industry News
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Almond Board Announces 2026 Board of Directors
The Almond Board of California (ABC) announced the results of the 2026 Board of Directors election. The names of the following nominees have been submitted to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for final selection to terms of office beginning Aug. 1.
“The success of our industry depends on the dedicated individuals willing to step forward and serve,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “On behalf of ABC, I want to thank all of the candidates who participated in this year’s election. Your commitment to advancing the California almond industry is deeply valued.”
The Almond Board of California is made up of five grower and five handler representatives, each with an alternate, who collectively help guide the strategic direction of the almond industry. The Board sets policy and recommends budgets across key areas such as marketing, production research, nutrition research, quality control, and food safety.
Independent Grower Position
Grower Position No. 1: One-year term
- Member: Tobin Barth, Esparto
- Alternate: Paul Ewing, Atwater
Independent Handler Positions
Handler Position No. 1: Three-year term
- Member: Dinesh Bajaj, Turlock
- Alternate: Raj Samran, Ballico
Handler Position No 3: One-year term
- Member: Chad DeRose, McFarland
- Alternate: Patrick Anderes, Fresno
Cooperative Positions
The following cooperative nominees were selected through their respective cooperative processes and will serve on the Almond Board of California:
Cooperative Grower Position No 1: Three-year term
- Member: George Goshgarian, Jr.
- Alternate: Cathy Marsh
Cooperative Handler Position No. 2: Three-year term
- Member: Kabir Tumber
- Alternate: Alicia Rockwell
“The success of our industry depends on the dedicated individuals willing to step forward and serve,” said Clarice Turner, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. “On behalf of ABC, I want to thank all of the candidates who participated in this year’s election. Your commitment to advancing the California almond industry is deeply valued.”
The Almond Board of California is made up of five grower and five handler representatives, each with an alternate, who collectively help guide the strategic direction of the almond industry. The Board sets policy and recommends budgets across key areas such as marketing, production research, nutrition research, quality control, and food safety.
Independent Grower Position
Grower Position No. 1: One-year term
- Member: Tobin Barth, Esparto
- Alternate: Paul Ewing, Atwater
Independent Handler Positions
Handler Position No. 1: Three-year term
- Member: Dinesh Bajaj, Turlock
- Alternate: Raj Samran, Ballico
Handler Position No. 3: One-year term
- Member: Chad DeRose, McFarland
- Alternate: Patrick Anderes, Fresno
Cooperative Positions
The following cooperative nominees were selected through their respective cooperative processes and will serve on the Almond Board of California:
Cooperative Grower Position #1: 3-year term
- Member: George Goshgarian, Jr.
- Alternate: Cathy Marsh
Cooperative Handler Position #2: 3-year term
- Member: Kabir Tumber
- Alternate: Alicia Rockwell
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EPF Applications in Organic Hazelnut Orchards
Organic hazelnut growers are always looking for newer, more effective ways of handling aphid infestations in their orchards, and researchers at Oregon State University are experimenting with entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) with promising results. OSU graduate student Matt Pedersen shared some of the latest findings on EPF applications with Matthew Malcolm from Pacific Nut Producer. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor George Packing Company for their industry support.
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USDA Launches TRUMP Mission to Argentina and Ecuador
The U.S. Department of Agriculture launched a Trade Reciprocity for U.S. Manufacturers and Producers (TRUMP) mission to Argentina and Ecuador this week to open new markets and strengthen export opportunities for American farmers, ranchers and producers.
Built on the Reciprocal Trade and Investment agreements signed with Argentina and Ecuador earlier this year, the mission led by USDA’s Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, Luke J. Lindberg, aims to increase fair access to two of the Western Hemisphere’s fastest-growing markets.
“Our three-point plan has already reduced the agricultural trade deficit by 42%, and now, TRUMP trade missions like this one are turning new market access into true market share,” said Under Secretary Lindberg. “By taking our farm groups straight to the table with willing buyers in Argentina and Ecuador, we’re converting these historic reciprocal agreements into lasting commercial wins for our hardworking farmers, ranchers and producers back home.”
In 2025 alone, the U.S. exported $166 million in seeds, essential oils, livestock genetics, tree nuts and more to Argentina. The same year, $595 million in agricultural products were exported to Ecuador, including soybean meal, wheat and other feeds and fodders.
Staff from USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service will lead industry tours, host business-to-business meetings, and meet with Argentine and Ecuadorian officials to support U.S. trade priorities and American agricultural producers. The delegation includes representatives from:
1. California Almonds – Modesto, Calif.
2. USA Poultry & Egg Export Council – Tucker, Ga.
3. U.S. Grains and Bioproducts Council – Washington, D.C.
4. U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. – Mount Horeb, Wis.
5. U.S. Meat Export Federation – Denver, Colo.
6. U.S. Soybean Export Council – Chesterfield, Mo.
7. U.S. Wheat Associates – Arlington, Va.
For more information on USDA trade missions, visit https://www.fas.usda.gov/topics/trade-missions. — Story contributed by the USDA Foreign Ag Service
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California Walnut Commission Voices Support for ASCF
The California Walnut Commission issued a statement voicing its support for the Assistance for Specialty Crops Farmers (ACSF) program. The program was announced May 29, offering $1.6 billion in federal assistance and relief to growers of specialty crops. This includes tree nuts like walnuts, almonds and pistachios.
“The California Walnut Commission extends its appreciation to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) staff for the announcement and implementation of payment rates and the enrollment period for the ASCF program.
In response to elevated input costs and market disruptions that impede specialty crop exports, USDA will issue $1.625 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers. Eligible walnut growers will be able to receive payments at a rate of $225 per acre based on their 2025 crop acreage report. This new funding will help walnut growers, many from multi-generational family farms, offset high production costs and ongoing market disruptions due to tariffs in key markets.
‘Walnut growers are in full swing nurturing this year’s crop, which just finished the bloom and nut set start of the crop year,’ said Bill Carriere, vice chairman of the California Walnut Commission. ‘This additional financial support will be utilized to lower input costs and improve our competitiveness abroad.’
We thank Secretary Rollins and USDA for their continued commitment to supporting specialty crop producers, including California walnut growers, to strengthen the competitiveness of American agriculture at home and abroad.”
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Last Chance for Free Cover Crop Seed from Project Apis m.
There are less than 100 spots left for growers to take advantage of free cover crop seed from Project Apis m. Through their Seeds for Bees program.
Running from April 1 to Aug. 31, Seeds for Bees encourages the adoption of cover crop to provide forage for bees in orchards in California and elsewhere. This has the added benefit of fixing nitrogen and other vital nutrients into the soil. The seed mixes available through Seeds for Bees are designed to bloom through critical parts of the year, when natural forage is scarce and pollinators need it the most.
Learn more about Project Apis m. and their Seeds for Bees program here.
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Valadao Welcomes Brooke Rollins to Bakersfield
Rep. David Valadao (R-CA) hosted USDA Sec. Brooke Rollins last Friday at Allied Potato for a roundtable discussion on the challenges facing Central Valley growers, ranchers and producers.
The event brought together agricultural leaders from across the region to discuss key industry priorities and celebrate the USDA’s finalizing of the Specialty Crops Farmers program. This will provide $1.6 billion in payments to eligible specialty crop producers to help offset rising input costs and market disruptions — $625 million more than previously announced.
Prior to the roundtable, Valadao and Rollins toured Allied Potato, where the visited the fields and observed the processing and packaging operations. Attendees included representatives from the California Farm Bureau, Western Growers, Wonderful Citrus, California Dairies Inc., Milk Producer’s Council, California Citrus Mutual, Grimmway Farms, Western Tree Nut Association, Blue Diamond Almonds, California Fresh Fruit Association, California Farmworker Foundation, Family Tree Farms, Monte Vista Farming Company, and Cauzza Growers.
“Agriculture drives the Central Valley’s economy, and I was honored to welcome USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to Bakersfield for a discussion with local agricultural leaders today,” Valadao said “For years, I’ve worked closely with producers across the Valley to address the challenges they face—rising input costs, workforce shortages, burdensome regulations, and the need for a stronger specialty crop safety net—and this conversation reinforced the importance of continued collaboration. As the sole dairy farmer in Congress, I understand these issues firsthand, which is why I was proud to join the Secretary as she announced USDA finalized $1.6 billion in assistance for specialty crop growers to help offset high costs and market disruptions. I appreciate her engagement with our local leaders, and I look forward to continuing to work with USDA on commonsense policies that support Central Valley agriculture and give producers the certainty they need to plan for the future.”
“Thank you Congressman Valadao, a leader on the House Commitee on Agriculture, for hosting an incredible roundtable today at Allied Potato here in your beautiful Bakersfield, California. Your extraordinary farmers, ranchers, and dairymen exemplify what it means to feed the country and the world,” Rollins said. “Everyday, the Trump Administration is putting Farmers First. As we announced after the roundtable, we are committed to ensuring the economic strength of our specialty crop operations as we continue opening new markets abroad and strengthening demand domestically for American produce. Congressman Valadao was critical to helping pass the Working Families Tax Cut Act, which is already helping over 63,000 California farms sell more agriculture products than any other state, protecting 2 million family farms from the death tax, increasing reference prices for the first time in more than a decade, and making the largest investment in rural America in history. And we are just getting started.”
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Shifting Economic Factors Impact Almond Growers
The changing economic landscape is affecting growers across the board, and almonds are no exception. Factors like inflation are having an impact on orchards and are pushing back growers’ break-even years after planting. Matthew Malcolm with California Ag Network spoke recently with Matt Woolf of Terrain Ag to discuss the changing economics of almond growing. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
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Studies Indicate Pistachios Healthier than Previously Thought
Once cautioned against as fattening, new research indicates that pistachios are actually a superfood. Studies have shown the nut helps in lowering triglycerides and curbing appetite. Dr. Nikhil Dhurandhar from Texas Tech and Amber Wilson with American Pistachio Growers spoke recently with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to go over these recent findings. Watch this quick interview and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.