Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Category: Non-Video

  • Honey Bee Health Coalition Releases Spanish-language Editions of Two Popular Varroa Management Guides

    Honey Bee Health Coalition Releases Spanish-language Editions of Two Popular Varroa Management Guides

    The Honey Bee Health Coalition released Spanish-language editions of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide and the Guide to Varroa Mite Controls for Commercial Beekeeping Operations. The guides have helped beekeepers deploy effective varroa control that reduce colony losses and avoid potential spread of infectious disease among honey bee colonies.

    The Honey Bee Health Coalition released the 8th Edition of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide last year. The guide provides information on the latest testing and treatment options for beekeepers in the USA and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites. An expert team of beekeepers, entomologists, Extension agents, apiary inspectors and federal regulators spent more than six months editing the document to bring it up-to-date with changes in best practices and treatment options. The guide details new information on varroa control products including products that have been approved for use since the 7th edition was released in 2018.

    The Guide to Varroa Mite Controls for Commercial Beekeeping Operations lays out a vision that addresses the risks of resistance created by off-label chemical treatments of varroa. Widespread mite resistance to amitraz poses a serious threat to the long-term business of every commercial beekeeping business and threatens food security. Continuous use of off-label amitraz, with increasing dosages and frequency of use as it becomes less effective, is very likely to cause amitraz to lose its effectiveness more quickly; a trend beekeepers are already seeing. The guide aims to help commercial beekeepers evaluate a variety of Varroa control methods that can be integrated into a management plan to protect their bees and their business. It includes 6 case studies of commercial beekeepers who stick to the label are run successful operations.

    The full Spanish version of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide is offered free of charge at the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Website at the following link: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Varroa-guide-_ES.pdf

    The full Spanish version of the Guide to Varroa Mite Controls for Commercial Beekeeping Operations is also offered free of charge at the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Website at the following link: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Varroa-case-studies-guide-_ES.pdf

    About the Honey Bee Health Coalition

    The Honey Bee Health Coalition brings together beekeepers, growers, researchers, government agencies, agribusinesses, conservation groups, manufacturers, brands and other key partners to improve the health of honey bees and other pollinators. Its mission is to collaboratively implement solutions that help achieve a healthy population of honey bees while also supporting populations of native and managed pollinators in the context of productive agricultural systems and thriving ecosystems. The Coalition focuses on accelerating the collective impact of efforts in four key areas: forage and nutrition; hive management; crop pest management; and communications, outreach and education.

    The Honey Bee Health Coalition is a project of the Keystone Policy Center, a nationally recognized nonprofit that brings together diverse stakeholders to find collaborative, actionable solutions to public policy challenges.

    La Honey Bee Health Coalition publica ediciones en español de dos guías sobre el control de la Varroa

    Keystone, Colo.— Honey Bee Health Coalition ha publicado ediciones en español de la Guía de Herramientas para el Manejo de la Varroa y de la Guía de Control del Ácaro Varroa para Operaciones Apícolas Comerciales. Las guías han ayudado a los apicultores a desplegar un control eficaz de la varroa que reduce las pérdidas de colmenas y evita la posible propagación de enfermedades infecciosas entre las colmenas de abejas melíferas.

    Honey Bee Health Coalition publicó el año pasado la 8ª edición de la Guía de herramientas para la gestión de la varroasis. La guía ofrece información sobre las últimas pruebas y opciones de tratamiento para que los apicultores de EE.UU. y Canadá mantengan sanas a las abejas y controlen los ácaros de la varroa. Un equipo de expertos formado por apicultores, entomólogos, agentes de extensión, inspectores de colmenas y reguladores federales dedicaron más de seis meses a editar el documento para actualizarlo con los cambios en buenas prácticas y opciones de tratamiento. La guía detalla nueva información sobre los productos de control de varroa, incluidos los productos que han sido aprobados para su uso desde que se publicó la 7ª edición en 2018.

    La Guía para el control del ácaro Varroa en la Apicultura Comercial expone una visión que aborda los riesgos de la resistencia creada por los tratamientos químicos de la Varroa no indicados en la etiqueta. La resistencia generalizada de los ácaros al amitraz supone una grave amenaza para el negocio a largo plazo de todas las empresas apícolas comerciales y amenaza la seguridad alimentaria. Es muy probable que el uso continuo de amitraz, con dosis y frecuencia de uso cada vez mayor haga que este pierda efectividad más rápido, una tendencia que los apicultores ya están observando. La guía pretende ayudar a los apicultores comerciales a evaluar una serie de métodos de control de Varroa que pueden integrarse en un plan de gestión para proteger a sus abejas y su negocio. Esta incluye 6 estudios de casos de apicultores comerciales que siguen las indicaciones de las etiquetas y dirigen operaciones exitosas.

    La versión completa en español de las Herramientas para la Gestión de Varroa se ofrece gratuitamente en el sitio web de la Honey Bee Health Coalition en la siguiente dirección.

    La versión completa en español de la Guía de Control del Ácaro Varroa en la Apicultura Comercial se ofrece también gratuitamente en el sitio web de la Honey Bee Health Coalition en la siguiente dirección.

    Acerca de la Honey Bee Health Coalition

    La Honey Bee Health Coalition reúne a apicultores, cultivadores, investigadores, agencias gubernamentales, agroindustrias, grupos conservacionistas, fabricantes, marcas y otros socios clave para mejorar la salud de las abejas de la miel y otros polinizadores. Su misión es implementar soluciones colaborativas que ayuden a conseguir una población sana de abejas melíferas y, al mismo tiempo, apoyar a las poblaciones de polinizadores autóctonos y gestionados en un contexto de sistemas agrícolas productivos y ecosistemas prósperos. La Coalición se centra en acelerar el impacto colectivo de los esfuerzos en cuatro áreas clave: forraje y nutrición; gestión de colmenas; gestión de plagas de cultivos; y comunicaciones, divulgación y educación.

    La Honey Bee Health Coalition es un proyecto del Keystone Policy Center, una organización sin ánimo de lucro reconocida a nivel nacional que reúne a diversas partes interesadas para encontrar soluciones de colaboración a los retos de las políticas públicas.

  • USDA Forecasts Lowest CA Almond Crop Per Acre Since 2005

    USDA Forecasts Lowest CA Almond Crop Per Acre Since 2005

    The 2023 California Almond Subjective Forecast published Friday by the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) estimates that the crop harvested in 2023 will come in at 2.50 billion pounds, 3 percent below last year’s 2.57 billion pounds.

    Richard Waycott, President & CEO, Almond Board of California

    Forecasted yield is 1,810 pounds per acre, down 90 pounds from 2022 and the lowest since 2005. “A lower crop estimate was not unexpected considering all that growers dealt with last year and during this year’s bloom,” said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California (ABC). “The cold, wet weather kept bees in their hives and reduced the hours they could pollinate orchards. In the past three years, growers have faced high costs, shipping issues, drought and more. But the water picture is better, at least for this year, shipping continues at record levels and global demand continues to grow. California’s almond farmers are prepared to meet that global demand.”

    The report said: “Record rainfall and unprecedented stormy conditions impacted pollination. Limited bee flight hours were reported in all growing regions. There were reports of downed trees due to high winds and oversaturated soil. Yields are expected to be the lowest in years, with variation observed across varieties and orchard locations. Colder than normal temperatures continued through March and April, resulting in a delayed crop.”

    The Subjective Forecast is the first of two production reports from USDA-NASS for the coming crop year. It is an estimate based on opinions from a survey conducted from April 19 to May 6 of 500 randomly selected California almond growers. The sample of growers, which changes every year, is spread across regions and different sized operations, and they had the option to report their data by mail, online or phone.

    On July 7, USDA-NASS will release its second production estimate, the 2023 California Almond Objective Report, which is based on actual almond counts in nearly 1,000 orchards using a more statistically rigorous methodology to determine yield.

    This Subjective Forecast comes two weeks after USDA-NASS released the 2022 California Almond Acreage Report which found total almond acreage had dropped in 2022 to 1.63 million, 1.2 percent down from 1.65 million in 2021. It also estimated 1.38 million bearing acres in 2023, up from 2022’s estimate of 1.35 million bearing acres.

    USDA-NASS conducts the annual Subjective Forecast, Objective Report and Acreage Report to provide the California almond industry with the data needed to make informed business decisions. These reports are the official industry crop estimates.

  • Young Farmers & Ranchers Program Develops Future Leaders

    Young Farmers & Ranchers Program Develops Future Leaders

    The California Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) program is designed to identify, grow and develop young Farm Bureau members and provide them with opportunities and experiences to help them become effective leaders in the agriculture community.

    But when Jocelyn Anderson, a fourth-generation almond and walnut grower from Willows joined the state YF&R Committee in 2018, little did she realize the opportunities that would be made available to her, the latest being the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where she told delegates from around the world about ways California farmers are working to save water.

    “I was able to meet people from around the world, farmers and people in policy. I didn’t know what to expect but came out excited. Attendees said we need to work with farmers, or climate policies won’t work,” she said about the meetings in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, in November.  “I think it opens the door for ag to continue to be at the table, make policymakers understand what we need to be successful and form better agreements together.”

    Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit, said developing future leaders like Anderson is why California’s Farm Credit organizations have been supporting the YF&R program for nearly 15 years.

    “The Young Farmers and Ranchers program has a great track record of developing future leaders in agriculture, both nationally and here in California,” Littlefield said. “Farm Credit is proud to have provided over $145,000 over the years to support YF&R’s efforts to promote farming and build stronger and sustainable rural communities.”

    Other Farm Credit organizations supporting the program are American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson agreed that the YF&R program helps develop farming leaders.

    “The California Farm Bureau is proud to support the next generation of farmers and ranchers through the Young Farmers and Ranchers program,” Johansson said. “We see firsthand how participants in YF&R can make a difference locally, nationally and even internationally. The future of agriculture is in good hands, thanks to the contributions and dedication of our YF&R community.”

    Anderson’s great-grandparents began the family’s farming legacy, growing oranges in Anaheim on land now occupied by Disneyland. In 1950, her grandparents moved north to begin operations in Glenn County. The farm has grown to 1,000 acres and also includes a walnut hulling operation.

    Besides learning everything her father, Gary, knows about farming so she can eventually assume the reins, Anderson has spent several years in YF&R activities at the state and national levels. She served on the California YF&R Committee for several years before becoming vice chair and in 2022 the organization’s chair. During the last two years of her service, she was also an American Farm Bureau YF&R Committee member and helped organize state and national leadership conferences.

    The most recent California YF&R conference was held in early December in Monterey and attracted more than 120 members.

    She said developing expertise in agricultural issues so she could become a strong advocate was an important outcome of her participation.

    “It’s important that we have people fighting for ag in the future,” she said. “We have the fifth-largest agricultural economy in the world in California, with close to 400 different crops and livestock grown here. But it’s also one of the most regulated states and we face issues other states haven’t faced yet. Being an advocate for what small family farms need to be successful is doing what’s best for my family farm and everyone else’s.”

    Through her YF&R involvement, she was introduced to Solutions from the Land (SfL), a nonprofit formed in 2009 to put farmers, ranchers and foresters at the forefront of resolving food system, energy, environmental and climate challenges. SfL has brought farmers to the U.N. Climate Summits for a decade and participated in discussions during the past five years. This year, the summit featured its first ag-themed day.

    She discussed how California farmers are using water more efficiently. For example, she said GSA Farms drains water used in hulling operations back into the fields so it can percolate into the ground and help recharge the aquifer. She also talked about how the farm reuses the shells and leaves from the hulling operations to fertilize the soil for planting winter wheat.

    Anderson said she constantly encourages young people involved in agriculture to get involved in YF&R because it allows them to be advocates for the industry and to share their own stories with others.

    “I think it’s extremely important to belong,” she said. “Not only does it create a network for you, it’s also important that we have people fighting for ag in the future.”

    Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, agreed.

    “The state continues to impose increasingly stringent and expensive regulations on California’s farmers and ranchers,” Hesterberg said. “While many of these new requirements are well-intentioned, state officials need to understand how the cumulative impact is affecting farmers’ ability to keep their businesses going. The best voice for agriculture is family farmers who can share their experiences and provide alternative solutions that can ensure that California continues to feed the nation for generations to come.”

    Anderson and other panelists who spoke at the U.N. Climate Change Conference panel “Water Is the Face of Climate Change” in Egypt last November.

    About Farm Credit: 

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank, Colusa-Glenn Farm Credit, Fresno Madera Farm Credit and Yosemite Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. For more than 100 years, the Farm Credit System has specialized in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For a link to this article and for more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

    About the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee:

    The Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee is a program for agriculturalists between the ages of 18 and 35 involved in production, banking, business, and many other areas of the industry. YF&R provides opportunities to develop leadership skills through involvement in Farm Bureau at the county, state, and national levels. YF&R members are a vital part of the organization. Each member’s efforts help California Farm Bureau to effectively represent the diversity of farmers and ranchers across the state. For more information, visit https://www.cfbf.com/ag-programs/young-farmers-ranchers

  • Almond Board of CA 2023 Elections Have Begun

    Almond Board of CA 2023 Elections Have Begun

    Voting began Friday, April 21, to select one independent grower position and two independent handler positions on the Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors. Alternate seats for those spots are also open as well as a second grower alternate seat that was not filled in 2022. Voting ends May 25.

    Candidates for the independent grower positions:

    Grower Position #1, Member (1-year term):
    Mallvinder Singh Kahal, Madera, (petitioner)
    Paul Ewing, Los Banos (incumbent)

    Grower Position #1, Alternate:
    Katie Staack, Hughson (incumbent)

    Grower Position #2 Alternate (3-year term**):
    Brad Klump, Escalon, (petitioner)
    Jaime Silva Esteves, Denair (petitioner)
    **2 years remaining on term.

    Candidates for the independent handler positions:

    Handler Position #1, Member (3-year term):
    Alexi Rodriguez, Caruthers (incumbent)

    Handler Position #3, Member (1-year term):
    Darren Rigg, Le Grand (incumbent)

    Handler Position #1, Alternate:
    Ron Fisher, Modesto (incumbent)

    Handler Position #3, Alternate:
    Chad DeRose, McFarland (incumbent)

    “Every vote is important, and it’s equally important to have as much of the industry as possible represented in the voting,” said ABC President and CEO Richard Waycott. “The Board of Directors represents more than 7,600 growers and 100 handlers and guides the work of the Almond Board to help the industry succeed in these continuing complicated times.”

    Learn more about the candidates here.

    The ABC board, made up of five handler and five grower representatives, sets policy and recommends budgets in major areas, including marketing, production research, public relations and advertising, nutrition research, statistical reporting, quality control and food safety.

    Results will be announced June 1 and the new board will start its term Aug. 1.

  • LeadOn, American Pistachio Growers Leadership Program Introduces Largest Class Ever

    LeadOn, American Pistachio Growers Leadership Program Introduces Largest Class Ever

    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:

    -Mindy Cunha, P Cunha Farms

    -Phillip Cunha, P Cunha Farms

    -Yazmin DeLeon, Horizon Nut Company

    -Adrian Diaz, Chandler Automation

    -Amarinder Dosanjh, Doaba Farming

    -Karandeep Gill, Prestige Ranch LLC

    -Carolyn Gleason, West Hills Farm Services

    -Matthew Guzman, Sol Aureus Farms

    -Martin Herrera, California Ag Solutions

    -Udhay Kahlon, RHM Farms

    -Mitchell Keenan, Keenan Farms

    -Matthew Malcolm, Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

    -Amir Pars, Primex International

    -Julio Ramos, Setton Farms

    -April Ramos, Touchstone Pistachio Company

    -Jonathan Romero, Laborde Land Co LLC

    -Scott Schuil, Schuil Ag Real Estate

    -Jason Searle, Searle Ranch

    -Brandon Spain, Manulife Investment Management Farmland Management Services

    -Holly Sylvester-Lopez, Horizon Nut Company

    -Chase Thomas, Ultra Gro

    -Hector Vaca, M&E Vaca Farms

    -Jimi Valov, Valov Brothers Farms

    -Tyler Zion, Meridian Growers

    Pacific Nut Producer Editor Matthew Malcolm

    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.
  • Common Threads Honors 13 Women in Ag for their Service

    Common Threads Honors 13 Women in Ag for their Service

    Anthropologist Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

    That is the core of Common Threads, an awards program that recognizes women in agriculture in the San Joaquin Valley and Northern California for their service to agriculture and to their communities. As the Common Threads North awards program put it:

    “Agriculture is the common thread of all honorees. Their contributions are symbolic of the rich, colorful threads used to fashion a multifaceted tapestry, not unlike the agricultural diversity of our region. The common threads of our tapestry display an array of cultures, ages, and regions. Some threads are vivid and bright, like the colorful bounty of our land’s harvest. Some are as soft as well-used denim and a little faded with age. Some have the tensile strength of iron; others the complexity and richness of fine lace.”

    Colleen Cecil, executive director of the Butte County Farm Bureau and a member of the Common Threads North committee, which recognizes women from Stanislaus County north to the Oregon border, said it was important to honor the contributions of women to agriculture.

    “Women are often overlooked because they’re busy working bees in the background and they don’t get the spotlight,” Cecil said.

    “Other programs recognize outstanding people, but this is the only one I know of about women in ag. It’s special to get this award because you’ve been nominated by others who hold you in high regard. I’ve had the opportunity to read the applications and letters of recommendation, and I just want to give everyone an award. We’re grateful to be able to bring attention to these women.”

    Rebecca Quist, the chair of the Common Threads Fresno committee, which recognizes women in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced and Tulare counties, noted that the committee’s honorees represent a wide variety in ages.

    “Ag has no age limit. The women we recognize are legacy women – whether they’ve done things quietly behind the scenes or they’re part of a newer generation where they’re out-front advocating in a public forum,” she said.

    In the Fresno area, seven honorees were honored on March 1 at a luncheon in Clovis: Lucy Areias, Fresno; Aubrey Bettencourt, Hanford; Juanita Calzadillas-Pedrozo, Merced; Holly Rosa, Hanford; Nanette Simonian, Fowler; Sheri Kanagawa, Hanford; and Tricia Stever Blattler, Honorary Recipient, Tulare.

    And in the north, six women were recognized at a dinner in Winters on April 5:  Geri Byrne, Tulelake; Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli, Woodland; Bobbin Mulvaney, Sacramento; Audrey Z. Tennis, Chico; Linda Walker, Los Molinos; and Sharron Zoller, Kelseyville.

    North CA Honorees (Left to right): Bobbin Mulvaney (Sacramento), Audrey Z. Tennis (Chico), Sharron Zoller (Kelseyville), Linda Walker (Los Molinos), Geri Byrne (Tulelake), Bonnie Fernandez-Fenaroli (Woodland).

    AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank and Fresno Madera Farm Credit have collectively contributed more than $35,000 to support Common Threads as top-level sponsors since 2015. The organizations are part of the nationwide Farm Credit System – the largest provider of credit to U.S. agriculture.

    Mark Littlefield, President and CEO of AgWest Farm Credit, said Farm Credit supports Common Threads because of the importance of women in agriculture.

    “Each of the women honored this year has made outstanding contributions to California agriculture, whether managing operations of their family farming business, through work in organizations supporting agriculture or both,” Littlefield said. “And since so many younger women are taking on even more important roles in farming and ranching, they will help ensure a strong future for agriculture in the state.”

    Keith Hesterberg, President and CEO of Fresno Madera Farm Credit, added that the philanthropic efforts of women in agriculture are a cornerstone of the health of farming communities around the state.

    “Since the founding of our nation, rural America has evolved through a unique commitment to volunteerism that has strengthened and improved our communities,” Hesterberg said. “The Common Threads winners truly exemplify this trait as all have given generously of their time over the years to work on projects that have made a real difference.”

    The Common Threads program also benefits the recipients’ communities, Holman noted, as some of the proceeds from the awards events benefit a charity designated by each of the honorees.

    About Farm Credit: AgWest Farm Credit, American AgCredit, CoBank and Fresno Madera Farm Credit are cooperatively owned lending institutions providing agriculture and rural communities with a dependable source of credit. We specialize in financing farmers, ranchers, farmer-owned cooperatives, rural utilities and agribusinesses. Farm Credit offers a broad range of loan products and financial services, including long-term real estate loans, operating lines of credit, equipment and facility loans, cash management and appraisal and leasing services…everything a “growing” business needs. For more information, visit www.farmcreditalliance.com

    About Common Threads: The Common Threads program was launched in 1997 by the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and the Ag One Foundation at California State University, Fresno. The Agricultural Leadership Foundation launched Common Threads North in 2003 in conjunction with the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences at the University of California, Davis, California Women in Agriculture and nine county Farm Bureaus.

  • Blue Diamond Growers’ Former CEO Awarded California Cultivator Award

    Blue Diamond Growers’ Former CEO Awarded California Cultivator Award

    The Ag Council of California recently celebrated Mark Jansen as the 2023 California Cultivator Award recipient on March 30, 2023, during the association’s 104th Annual Meeting in Monterey.

    Mark Jansen served as president and chief executive officer of Blue Diamond Growers for 12 years and is CEO emeritus. Mark led Blue Diamond in transforming the cooperative into an industry-leading global branded food manufacturer and marketer with his leadership focus on innovation, safety, quality, and strategic growth. With a vision on long-term growth, Mark introduced the capabilities and fostered partnerships around the globe to build the Almond Breeze® portfolio, which is now the world’s leading almondmilk brand.

    Over his tenure, Mark grew revenue by 9.4 percent CAGR and improved profit returns to the co-op’s almond grower-owners by 2,000 percent. In 2021, Mark was honored as one of the Sacramento region’s most admired CEOs.

    Blue Diamond’s Board of Directors Chair Dan Cummings said, “Mark has earned the respect and admiration of our grower-owners with his personable style and engagement in the industry.” Dan added, “His contributions have poised us for future growth and success.”

    Among his accomplishments, Mark served as chair of the California Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, as well as chair of the organization’s International Forum and chair of its Audit Committee. His service also includes: the Board of Trustees for the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, chair of the Graduate Institute of Cooperative Leadership, and previous vice chair of the Almond Board of California.

    “I have great respect and admiration for Mark as a leader who is passionate about the cooperative values,” California Department of Food & Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross said. “These values are the guiding principles of a successful business, and with Mark’s leadership, Blue Diamond has served its grower members with added value and integrity to be a respected global leader.”

    Ag Council President Emily Rooney said, “We are pleased to honor Mark with this special award. Mark’s leadership and commitment to the betterment of Blue Diamond are unparalleled. We know his efforts will have positive outcomes for the cooperative for many years and thanks to him – as Mark himself would say – ‘the best is yet to come.’”

    As background, the California Cultivator Award recognizes and honors a person who clearly has made significant contributions to agriculture or who has demonstrated leadership and personal commitment beyond the normal expectations of a person serving the farmer-owned business sector.

    Congratulations to Mark Jansen upon being selected to receive this distinctive award.

  • Almond Board Retains Search Firm to Aid 2023 CEO Transition

    Almond Board Retains Search Firm to Aid 2023 CEO Transition

    The Almond Board of California retained Russell Reynolds Associates, a leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm, as the exclusive search firm to aid the transition to a new president and CEO. Current President and CEO Richard Waycott informed the Almond Board of California (ABC) Board of Directors that after 21 years he plans to step away from his ABC responsibilities at the end of 2023 to pursue other interests.

    An ABC search committee led by Board Chair Alexi Rodriguez retained Russell Reynolds Associates to help in the national CEO search. The firm has more than 50 years of experience working with public, private and nonprofit organizations in the U.S. and around the globe. Individuals interested in applying are invited to submit a curriculum vitae and brief explanation of interest in electronic form to almondboard@russellreynolds.com. Inquiries and nominations should also be sent to that email address.

    “This is an exceptional leadership opportunity for the right executive to serve the more than 7,600 growers and 100-plus handlers who have made almonds one of California’s largest crops,” Rodriguez said. “We are excited to see where our search will lead.”

    About the Almond Board of California

    California almonds make life better by what we grow and how we grow. The Almond Board of California promotes natural, wholesome and quality almonds through leadership in strategic market development, innovative research and accelerated adoption of industry best practices on behalf of the more than 7,600 almond farmers and processors in California, most of whom are multi-generational family operations. The Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was established in 1950 and is based in Modesto, CA. For more about the Almond Board or California almonds, visit Almonds.com.

  • $40 Million to Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural New Mexico

    $40 Million to Bring High-Speed Internet to Rural New Mexico

    As news to our New Mexico pistachio and pecan growers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Department is investing $40 million to provide high-speed internet access for people living and working in rural areas in New Mexico.

    Today’s investments are made possible because of funding from President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which provides $65 billion to expand reliable, affordable, high-speed internet to all communities across the U.S. The announcement reflects the goals of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild our economy from the middle-out and bottom-up through investments such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

    “The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has given USDA unprecedented resources to close the digital divide in rural America,” Secretary Vilsack said. “Connecting rural Americans to reliable, high-speed internet helps farmers and businesses operate more efficiently and break into new markets. It helps build and keep wealth in rural communities. USDA is committed to making sure that people, no matter where they live, have access to high-speed internet. That’s how you grow the economy – not just in rural communities, but across the nation.”

    The $40 million in grants comes from the fourth funding round of the ReConnect Program. The Department will announce additional investments in the coming weeks. USDA has invested $1.7 billion since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration through the ReConnect Program to bring high-speed internet access to rural Americans.

    The three projects being announced today in New Mexico are:

    • The Western New Mexico Telephone Company Inc. is receiving a $23.8 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet access to people in Catron County. The company will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs (ACP). It also will provide a $34.99 monthly plan with 75 megabits per second upload and download speeds for subscribers within the project area who are enrolled in the ACP.
    • The E.N.M.R. Telephone Cooperative is receiving a $2.6 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet access to people in De Baca, Guadalupe, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Socorro and Union counties. E.N.M.R. will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Lifeline and Affordable Connectivity Programs. This project will serve socially vulnerable communities in De Baca, Guadalupe, San Miguel and Socorro counties.
    • The Peñasco Valley Telephone (PVT) Cooperative is receiving a $13.9 million grant to deploy a fiber-to-the-premises network to provide high-speed internet access to 550 people, 48 farms and 11 businesses in Chaves, Eddy, Otero and Lincoln counties. PVT will make high-speed internet affordable by participating in the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). PVT also offers a program that can provide free internet for households participating in the ACP. This project will serve socially vulnerable communities in Chaves, Eddy and Otero counties.

    Background: ReConnect Program

    To be eligible for ReConnect Program funding, an applicant must serve an area that lacks access to service at speeds of 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download and 20 Mbps upload. The applicant must also commit to building facilities capable of providing high-speed internet service with speeds of 100 Mbps (download and upload) to every location in its proposed service area.

    Background: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

    President Biden forged consensus and compromise between Democrats, Republicans and Independents to demonstrate our democracy can deliver big wins for the American people. After decades of talk on rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure, President Biden delivered the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – a historic investment in America that will change people’s lives for the better and get America moving again.

    The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $65 billion to ensure every American has access to affordable, reliable high-speed internet through a historic investment in broadband infrastructure deployment. The legislation also lowers costs for internet service and helps close the digital divide, so that more Americans can take full advantage of the opportunities provided by internet access.

    To learn more about investment resources for rural areas, visit www.rd.usda.gov or contact the nearest USDA Rural Development state office.

    USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.

  • Almond Board Team Bolsters Nutrition Research and Pest Management

    Almond Board Team Bolsters Nutrition Research and Pest Management

    Two experts – one with a background in nutrition research; the other in pest management – have joined the Almond Board of California’s Research and Innovation team.

    As the associate director of nutrition research, Elena Hemler has been working on a new process to prioritize which research projects the Almond Board funds based on the marketing potential and the nutrition relevance of the topics.

    As a senior pest management specialist, Lauren Fann has been busy familiarizing herself on the research that has been conducted in the almond industry and looking beyond almonds for solutions to emerging problems such as plant bugs.

    Elena Hemler will serve as associate director of nutrition research at the Almond Board of California (image courtesy of the Almond Board of California)

    Hemler is based in Boston. She comes to the Almond Board after having worked in healthcare technology and conducting nutrition research at the Harvard School of Public Health. She was attracted to the Almond Board because of its long track record of investing in nutrition research studies in areas such as heart health, weight management, immunity and skin care.

    “I’ve always been very interested in the large body of research on the health benefits of almonds,” Hemler said. “I was familiar with ABC when I worked in academia and was always impressed with ABC’s reputation for funding high-quality research.”

    Hemler grew up in the Boston area. In her spare time, she and her partner Jacob enjoy hiking, biking and camping in the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire.

    Fann works out of the Almond Board’s Modesto office. Prior to the ABC, she was a graduate research assistant at the University of Kentucky, where she completed her PhD in Entomology. Her research was focused on integrated pest management strategies of the brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, in small acreage and organic vegetable systems.

    One of Fann’s goals at the Almond Board is to help develop effective new tactics that growers can use to expand their sustainable pest management options. She embraces the opportunity to help growers, PCAs and researchers meet the changing needs of the industry.

    “In a similar way that insects are often misunderstood or underappreciated, I want to help growers find the tools that work and change the narrative, highlighting the positive impacts of the almond industry.”

    Fann is a native of the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. When she’s not at work, she enjoys traveling and hiking, often with her dog Dylan. — By the Almond Board of California