PRESIDENT’S CORNER
6
Almond Facts
MAY | JUNE 2017
President’s Corner
Mark Jansen
President and CEO
Ensuring Economic
Viability
There is a sense of purpose in being part of a
cooperative. For
Blue Diamond Growers
, our
mission – our purpose – is a noble one. We are
here to ensure the economic viability of more
than 3,000 multi-generational farm families
in California. It’s pretty remarkable to think
about how this enterprise was developed from
our member-growers who farm an average of
75 acres. In many ways, our co-op is just the
opposite of big ag.
Each day we work to fulfill this mission and I am confident
that this will be another good year for
Blue Diamond.
The
pricing stability of almonds has driven almond consumption
and the profitability of our value-added businesses is
growing. The efforts of the brand teams are effectively
reaching consumers with
Almond Breeze
performing very
well and advertising and messaging right on point. On the
manufacturing side, efficiency improvements have been a
top priority and we are able to handle more volume through
existing production lines. Overall, I feel good about our
Blue
Diamond
marketing and operations performance.
Looking ahead, the 2017 crop appears to be healthy and will
likely surpass last year’s production. This promising outlook is
good for our mission, but we should continue to be diligent for
the future. Especially when it comes to water.
A recent post on my blog,
Almond Insights
, discussed the
need for California to develop sustainable water solutions.
No one could have predicted California’s record-breaking
rainfall and snowpack, and thankfully, the end of the
drought prompted the best water allocation in years. The UC
Berkeley study referenced in the post,
The Human Impact of
California’s Water Cuts
, highlights the impact water regulations
have had on the agricultural industry. These impacts are also
changing the way
Blue Diamond Growers
are farming. It’s time
to have these tough conversations about long-term solutions to
help keep our state as number one in agricultural exports.
Growers are already having these conversations. Every
year I have the opportunity to meet with members of
each district’s Grower Liaison Committee. These are
mutually valuable meetings based on the shared value
of our partnership. I learn more about our growers and
they learn more about what is happening at
Blue Diamond
.
This is also an opportunity for us to ask questions of one
another for an even more in-depth conversation. The
result is a better understanding of the crop and industry.
I thank each of our committee members for taking time
out of their busy schedules to represent their districts.
If you would like to learn more or even participate on
the committee, please contact your district directors,
committee members or regional managers.
Whether it is water issues, crop updates or market status,
communication is an important aspect to the success of our
mission.
Blue Diamond
shares information in a variety of ways.
For the most current source on global almond demand and
almond crop prospects,
Almond Insights
will help you better
understand the dynamics that will influence your business.
We also keep you informed of member news and updates
through email newsletters. To ensure your email is registered
with the Member Relations Department, visit the
Blue
Diamond Growers
website at
.
Every day I wake up excited to lead the cooperative,
positively influence the industry and share with you the good
news of our progress. As we move forward in our mission,
Blue Diamond Growers
will continue to make a difference in the
market and ensure your economic viability. It’s what drives
our noble purpose.
In many ways, our co-op is just
the opposite of big ag.
