The California State Water Resources Control Board is getting ready to crack down on farmers for their increased use of groundwater unless their local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies can come up with a sustainable plan that will not overdraft local groundwater resources. Watch this brief interview with Taryn Ravazzini from the California Department of Water Resources as she shares a progress report of this local GSAs at work.
As farmers well know, the actions of California Water Resources Control Board don’t often reflect the best interests of the farming community, and the recent Bay Delta Plan they are proposing is going to have a devastating impact if enacted. Watch this brief interview with Michael Frantz from the Turlock Irrigation District as he shares what farmers can do about this in the form of a settlement agreement.
Please thank our sponsor Duarte Nursery and attend one of their upcoming Bennett Hickman Almond Field Days in Pixley or Modesto.
One of the main concerns with recent almond acreage trends is in the exponential growth of earlier harvesting varieties and how the how that will impact early stockpiling at hulling and processing facilities. Growers obviously want to harvest their crops as soon as possible, but Navel Orangeworm damage doesn’t stop as soon as the nuts leave the orchard. Watch this brief video with Martin Pohl from Hughson Nut as he explains the situation and need for the almond industry to evolve with the trends. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
As growers, both new and experienced, continued to add to the record almond acreage in California, many are constantly evaluating what varieties to plant. With many new varieties on the market and consumer trends continuing to evolve, there is a lot to consider in variety selection. Check out this brief interview with Martin Pohl from Hughson Nut Company as he shares his insights from a processor’s perspective. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
With the recent announcement that almonds would be exempt from the Produce Safety Rule under FSMA, growers may think they got off the hook regarding extra trainings and documentation for food safety practices in the field, but watch this video with Tim Birmingham from the Almond Board of California who clarifies the recent change. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
The world is at war with California agriculture, and there never has been a more important time for the industry to be united and have a strong voice in Sacramento and Washington than now. That’s why we have lobbying trade organizations like the Almond Alliance of California to unite and support the needs and priorities of growers, hullers and processors. Watch this brief interview with Almond Alliance President Elaine Trevino as she explains at their annual convention. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
With all the new almond acreage coming into production, that means more almond hulls and shells to find a home for. So what are some economical options? Watch this brief interview with Julie Adams from the Almond Board of California to discuss options for exporting these coproducts overseas. Read more about it in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.
Any grower or packer that has experienced a food recall knows how stressful things can get and all that is at stake; yet those who have never experienced them tend to be the least prepared for a recall when it occurs. Watch this brief video interview with Rachael Dettmann Spiegel as she addressed growers, hullers and processors at the recent Almond Alliance Convention on how to prevent recalls from happening — but also how to deal with them in the event that a food recall does occur, like the one that has been all over the news recently with romaine lettuce.
Farmers in multiple regions of California have been receiving threatening letters from the State Water Board, imposing enormous fines and demanding them to provide clean drinking water to their communities. The Water Board is preparing to send out hundreds more of these letters to farmers throughout the state. This is not just; and to protect farmers from receiving these letters, all the while helping to provide clean drinking water to disadvantaged communities, agricultural organizations throughout the state are uniting in support of a new bill SB 623 to accomplish this. Learn more by watching this brief video interview with Tricia Geringer from Ag Council of California, based on her recent presentation at the Almond Alliance Annual Convention in Monterey.
The Almond Alliance of California recently announced new President and CEO Elaine Trevino, who just started on the job at the beginning of this month. It was sad to lose former CEO Kelly Covello, who made tremendous contributions to the association and the almond industry, but the Board is excited to embark on a new era with Elaine, who introduces herself in this video and will address the industry at their upcoming annual convention, May 1-3. Watch this brief video and read more it in the April issue of Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.