AF: Could you provide one or two suggestions for almond growers to get more involved with Blue Diamond ?
MM: Get more involved in agriculture, period. Read a lot and be informed. And read things beyond what interests you. Insects, diseases, varieties, regulatory and legislative issues all need attention. Your best source of information might not be your best friend. In other words, the guy you‘re leaning on as your source might not have your best interest in mind. Take the time and pay attention, listen, and ask questions. There is no such thing as a dumb question! The most beautiful thing about this network of people that I‘ve developed over the last 48 years is I can pick up a phone and ask questions. I‘m still in regular contact with several people from my past who have nothing to do with almonds, but I can call them to ask for news or updates. The best growers know they don‘t have all the answers and aren’t afraid to ask questions. In this business, you can’t know all the answers.
AF: What‘s your greatest wish for the future of Blue Diamond ‘s almond growers ?
MM: That the value of what they produce continues to be recognized by the consumers and that we can deliver a return to growers that enables them to enjoy their business. I want the consumer to realize the value that our growers and the Cooperative provide: a wholesome, nutritious food that easily fits into their daily diet and provides them with many benefits. Farming isn’t easy. But working together, I know that our member-growers will be able to continue producing the amazing almond.
Power 100: Sacramento’s biggest names in food and agriculture
In April, Blue Diamond ‘s President
Fan-Jet® Microsprinklers Non-Stop® Drip Emitters Premium Plus Tubing “PCI” Inline Drip Tubing BigFoot® 3.0 Drip Tape
and CEO, Kai Bockmann was included in the
Sacramento Business Journal’s Power 100, a yearly review of the most powerful people in the
Sacramento region‘s business community. Bockmann’s section covers top leaders in food and agriculture. Congratulations, Kai!
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