Pacific Nut Producer Magazine

Tag: California Ag Network

  • This Week In Ag – September 9

    From new leadership in California wine to an expanding citrus quarantine, several developments are making news across California agriculture this week.

    Here are five stories to know in this week’s edition of This Week in Ag.

    The Wonderful Company Names Chris Avery President of Wine

    The Wonderful Company has named Chris Avery president of its wine business, effective Oct. 5.

    Avery currently serves as CEO of Shafer Vineyards and brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in the luxury wine industry. In his new position, he will oversee JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery, Landmark Vineyards and Lewis Cellars.

    Throughout his career, Avery has also held senior positions at Darioush, DAOU Family Estates, Patrimony Estate, Opus One and Jordan Vineyard & Winery.

    His experience includes operations, global sales and distribution, marketing, hospitality and direct-to-consumer business.

    CAWG Launches Merchandise for California Wine Month

    September is California Wine Month, and the California Association of Winegrape Growers is giving supporters a new way to celebrate.

    CAWG launched a collection of California wine merchandise designed to promote the state’s wine and recognize the growers and communities behind the industry.

    Proceeds from the collection will support CAWG’s ongoing advocacy efforts for California winegrape growers.

    California Wine Month has been celebrated since 2004 and recognizes the state’s wines, winegrowing regions and the people behind them.

    Almond Industry Award Nominations Open

    The Almond Board of California is accepting nominations for two awards recognizing contributions to the California almond industry.

    The Almond Achievement Award recognizes an industry member who has made a lasting impact through long-term service and commitment to California almonds.

    The Almond Technical Achievement Award focuses on contributions through research, innovation or helping the industry adopt practices that benefit growers and the broader almond sector.

    Nominations for the 2026 awards are due Oct. 9, with the recipients scheduled to be announced during The Almond Conference in December.

    In 2025, Ross Blackburn received the Almond Achievement Award, while Christine Gemperle received the Almond Technical Achievement Award.

    HLB Quarantine Expands in California

    Federal and state officials are expanding quarantined areas for Huanglongbing, or HLB, in parts of California.

    The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, working with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, is adding one square mile to the Santa Paula quarantine area in Ventura County. The expansion impacts approximately 151.7 acres of commercial citrus.

    Another 10 square miles are being added to quarantined areas in Riverside and San Diego counties, impacting approximately 121.5 acres of commercial citrus.

    The expansion follows positive tests for the bacterium that causes HLB from plant tissue collected at residential properties.

    The quarantine and associated movement restrictions are intended to reduce the risk of HLB spreading into areas that are not currently infested.

    Western United Dairies Pursues Funding for Tule Subbasin Farmers

    Western United Dairies is pursuing additional federal conservation funding that could benefit farmers and agricultural land in the Tule Subbasin.

    The organization submitted two proposals to USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

    The proposals build on existing water conservation efforts and programs such as LandFlex, with the goal of bringing additional resources to dairy farmers and agricultural operations in the region.

    Water availability and groundwater sustainability remain significant issues for agricultural operations throughout the Central Valley, making programs that support conservation and water management increasingly important for producers.

    Stay Connected with California Ag Network

    From wine and almonds to citrus, dairy and water, This Week in Ag brings together five stories impacting California agriculture each week.

    For more news impacting the California ag industry, follow California Ag Network.

  • California Growers Have a New Enemy That’s Spreading Fast

    Golden Mussels have been a silent threat California growers since they arrived in the Delta in 2024. These mollusks reproduce at an alarming rate and don’t require saltwater, meaning they are now clogging up irrigation systems and depriving crops of an already scarce water supply. Jason McKee from Greenleaf Ag spoke with Matthew Malcolm from Malcolm Media Ag Publishing to discuss this latest threat to orchards. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • How Pistachios Created a New Word in Mexico

    American Pistachio Growers is marketing at the international level, and it’s bearing fruit across the globe. This includes Mexico, where excitement over pistachios resulted in a new word in the country’s vocabulary. Ines Masallach from Imalinx spoke with Matthew Malcolm about how American pistachios have exploded onto the Mexican market. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • 2026 Pistachio Week Kicks Off August 10th

    Pistachio Week is returning for its fifth year. Restaurants across California are creating new dishes to showcase American-grown pistachios with everything from desserts, to drinks and main entrees. Hannah Young of American Pistachio Growers spoke with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to talk about the event and some of the creations that will be available. Watch this quick video and read more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Almond Alliance Gives Growers a Seat at the Table

    The California almond industry is resilient, but input cost, labor and water access remain constant worries for growers. The Almond Alliance is working at the state and federal level to give a voice to the growers of over 80% of the world’s almond supply. Matthew Malcolm with California Ag Network took the time to talk with Alliance Chair Blake Vann to learn about what’s going on in their organization. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • WUSATA Offers Assistance to Growers on the Global Market

    Growers looking to showcase and export their products face numerous hurdles and challenges, but the Western United States Agricultural Trade Association (WUSATA) is working with growers to get their products onto the international market. Hayden Romig from WUSATA spoke with Matthew Malcolm of Malcolm Media Ag Publishing to discuss the work his organization does. Watch this quick video and learn more on California Ag Network.

  • Legal Compliance in the Almond Industry

    California can feel like a legal minefield with the potential lawsuits that almond growers can face. Knowing the latest laws and regulations, and how to be compliant with them, is more important than ever. Henderson Arreola Partner Stacy Henderson spoke with Matthew Malcolm to discuss some tactics for how growers can stay ahead of regulations. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Are GLP-1s a Threat or an Opportunity for the Almond Industry?

    GLP-1 weight loss drugs have been found to decrease consumption and lower household spending, thereby generating much discussion about their impact on appetites and on the almond industry. Terrain Ag analyst Matt Woolf spoke with Matthew Malcolm from California Ag Network to discuss what these drugs could mean for almond growers in California. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Almond Hulls Receive GRAS Status from FDA

    Almond hulls were recently given Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status by the FDA. This designation opens the door for them to be used in a variety of different food products, as they are high in fiber and phytonutrients. Almond Board of California CEO and President Clarice Turner spoke with Matthew Malcolm at California Ag Network to discuss this recent breakthrough and what it means for the almond industry. Watch this quick video and learn more in Pacific Nut Producer Magazine.

  • Market Growing for Organic Pistachios

    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.