World Champion Boxer and Olympian Jose Ramirez grew up in the Central Valley and spent some of his youth working in the fields. Both inside and outside the ring, he has been an advocate for farm water rights, immigration reform, farmers, and farm workers. Watch this brief interview at the American Pistachio Growers annual luncheon featuring Jose taking his involvement with agriculture to the next level. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Please thank this video’s sponsor G3 Enterprises for their industry support.
Back at the annual American Pistachio Growers (APG) Conference, longtime federal advocate for the association — Bob Schramm was paid special tribute for his dedicated service to the U.S. pistachio industry. Schramm is now transitioning into retirement, and he has worked with APG in selecting a new firm to take his place in representing and protecting the interests of the pistachio industry at the federal level. Watch this video to learn more, and be sure to keep up with the activities of APG in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
American Pistachio Growers (APG) Annual Membership luncheon is coming up on Friday, July 28th at the Visalia Convention Center. In addition to pistachio crop and marketing updates, APG is excited to have world boxing champion and Central Valley native Jose Ramirez joining the growers for the program. Watch this video featuring Wes Wilson from APG to learn more, and register to attend HERE. Pacific Nut Producer Magazine is proud to partner with APG for this special event, so be sure to see us there.
As U.S. Pistachio growers anticipate a larger crop this season, watch this brief interview with Richard Matoian from American Pistachio Growers on just how large a crop may come to fruition this season, as well as some great news on the rise in pistachio export shipping trends. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine. (Editor’s Note: We are pleased to announce an additional news anchor, Joseph Malcolm, debuted in this video report)
Jimi Valov, a man known as much for his generosity as his farming acumen, is Tulare County Farm Bureau’s Agriculturalist of the Year. Valov, of Tulare, is a grower of pistachios, almonds, alfalfa and grain on 1,800 acres spread throughout Tulare, Kings and Kern counties. Forty years ago, he was one of the first farmers to plant pistachio trees in the San Joaquin Valley and today he is a true ambassador of the crop. He regularly greets friends and acquaintances with a bag of salted pistachios in hand, fresh from the grower cooperative he helped to establish, Horizon Nuts. “I love giving away pistachios to people,” said Valov, who was sporting a vest emblazoned with the words ‘In Nuts We Trust.’ “I love handing them out because I grew them.”
Farming runs in the Valov family, and today the operation reflects the family’s Russian lineage. The Valov family originally farmed near Tblisi, Georgia until leaving for the United States in the early 1900s, eventually settling in the Bakersfield area. Jimi’s father, John, found land prices more reasonable in Tulare County and began growing cotton. Jimi farmed with his father, eventually convincing him that cotton should not be their main source of income — it should be pistachios.
Setting a goal of planting their initial 40 acres in 1983 is an achievement he looks back on fondly, and as an example of perseverance for young agriculturalists. “There will always be people to tell you ‘It can’t be done,” and I had a lot of that, especially when I planted pistachios. Everyone should have a goal in life, and strive for it,” he said.
Today, pistachios grow on 800 acres of Valov Family Farms land. Valov has been married to his wife, Tammy, for 25 years. He explained that in the Russian culture, the father’s name is given as each child’s middle name; for example, he is Jimi John Valov. He speaks proudly of his children, all of whom have an interest in the family operation. They include daughter Journey Jimi Valov, and sons Jade Jimi Valov and Jimi J. Valov, a recent plant science graduate of Cal Poly, SLO who is working alongside his father. Daughter Shyannah Jameson came with his marriage to Tammy, and together, he and Tammy have also raised their niece, Harmony Donaldson, a student at California Baptist University. Valov shares coffee each morning with Tammy, a special time for the couple to get caught up on family activities. It was during this moment that his phone rang, and he learned he had been selected Agriculturalist of the Year.
“I put it on speaker phone so my wife could hear,” he said. “I was blindsided!” This is not the first time he has been recognized for his role in the agriculture industry and the community. In 2015, he was named Farmer of the Year by the Tulare Kiwanis Club. Childhood friend Brian Watte (TCFB’s 2018 Agriculturalist of the Year), first met Valov in kindergarten class at Waukena School. He said the Valov family’s philanthropy seemingly knows no limits.
“He’s one of those guys who gives and gives, along with his wife. They are a team,” Watte said. “They give freely of their time and Jimi is well known to do a real good job barbecuing lamb on a custom barbecue. In the last 20 years, when someone in the community he knows, or a family member, passes away, he is the first one to offer up to help with food at the service. He drops whatever he is doing and contacts the family to take that burden off of them.” Valov will do just this on May 12 at the funeral service of his dear friend and fellow pistachio industry friend, Ken Purrier. Purrier co-owned Pioneer Nursery with Corky Anderson, another industry giant, who helped put American pistachios on the map.
Valov said it was the example of these two men that prompted him to become more involved in the industry. As a board member of American Pistachio Growers, a non-profit trade association representing over 800 grower members in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, he played a part in opening the nut’s export market to China. “I was standing at the Great Wall of China when I was asked if I could serve as chairman,” he said. “How about that!”
Jimi and Tammy share a beautiful home in Tulare, and their backyard is often the site of various community and political fundraisers. They have hosted numerous Tulare County Farm Bureau events, as well. Valov said supporting youth in 4-H and FFA is especially important, and he is known to purchase 10-15 lambs each year at the Tulare County Fair Livestock Auction.
“The main thing is that Jimi is such a giving person, in his private life, with local schools, or in agriculture,” Watte said. “If a neighbor who is getting into ag needs some mentoring, changing from row crops into trees, he’s right there to help you out. He’ll lend you equipment, and check on your trees as if they were his own.”
Valov said he has seen other growers cash out and leave California, but that’s not on his agenda. He intends to keep their family farm operating, and eventually pass it down to his children and three grandchildren, Hazel, (who was born on his birthday) River, and Ledger. — Article By Lisa McEwen, Tulare County Farm Bureau
American Pistachio Growers (APG) recently announced its 13th LeadOn pistachio industry leadership class. Selecting motivated individuals with vested interest in the success and future of the U.S. pistachio industry, APG has developed this program to prepare the next generation of pistachio industry leaders. This year-long program is designed to provide a unique experience, consisting of leadership training and industry education seminars led by APG and industry leaders, hands-on educational opportunities that build upon the knowledge base provided by seminar presenters, field experience and a firsthand view of how the pistachio Committees/Board work, to prepare participants for leadership service.<
En route to graduate at APG’s annual conference in February 2024, this will be the largest class to go through the program. The LeadOn class this year includes:
Pacific Nut Producer is proud to have its Editor-In-Chief, Matthew Malcolm, in the LeadOn program this year. “I have always admired American Pistachio Growers, the organization’s leadership and members,” Malcolm shared. “I’m thrilled to participate with my fellow class members in learning to become a stronger advocate and voice for the western pistachio industry through this program.”
APG convened its 13th LeadOn program at the International Agri-Center in Tulare on March 16th, where APG President, Richard Matoian provided an orientation of the program and overview of the mission of APG, which is to collectively advance the American Pistachio industry through research, promotion, advocacy and programs that directly benefit our members. Following Matoian’s remarks, UCCE Farm Advisor Emeritus Bob Beede spent the rest of the day with the group covering Pistachio Production 101. This was the first of many gatherings for the new LeadOn class. Those going through the program will invest 62-74 hours over the course of a year participating in board/committee meetings, training seminars, industry tours, and of course, APG’s annual Pistachio Industry Conference.
American Pistachio Growers President Richard Matoian addressing the 13th LeadOn class for their initial orientation and training in Tulare, CA.
American Pistachio Growers was pleased to introduce their newest ambassador Martin Yan at their recent annual conference in a fun cooking competition setting. World-renowned chef, famous for his 1982 cooking show, Yan’s new motto might very well be “Yan Can Cook with Pistachios and So Can You.” Watch this video and read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
In a recent national food trends report, pistachios were named nut of the year. Pistachio color, flavor and natural health benefits were highlighted as an official 2023 trend. Watch this brief interview with Judy Hirigoyen from American Pistachio Growers (APG) as she explains the significance of this announcement. Hirigoyen also highlights APG’s recent economic impact study. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Watch this interview with American Pistachio Growers President Richard Matoian as he provides the latest shipment trends for US pistachios with remarkable results. As shared at their annual pistachio industry conference, Matoian also conveys a realistic forecast for the future of the western pistachio industry, weighing out both concerns and confidence moving ahead.
As inflation and fluctuating global economics raise concern for Americans and California farmers, watch this brief interview with world-renowned economic forecaster Marci Rossell. Dr. Rossell recently addressed pistachio growers, processors and marketers at the annual Conference of American Pistachio Growers and shared some enlightening insights regarding the difference in today’s economic dynamics from the recessions of the past.
