GROWING THE GOODNESS
A Conversation with John Monroe Reflecting on Nine Years of Service on the Blue Diamond Board of Directors
Almond Facts (AF): John, thank you for taking the time to speak with Almond Facts. As your term on the Blue Diamond Board concludes, we’d like our growers to understand
AF: With a background in electrical engineering, what led you to such a vast career shift ? JM: It started as my father-in-law’s retirement project. As he got older, I stepped in to help manage the orchard. After he passed, we decided to continue farming with the Hendersons. We bought 50 acres in the mid-90s, then expanded with 200 acres off I-5. The decision aligned perfectly with my retirement from Hewlett Packard. It was great timing. Farming has been a tough but incredibly rewarding second career. I love the people, the challenges, and the sense of purpose. I’m always happy after a day on the farm. AF: How has Blue Diamond evolved and changed since you joined the board in 2016 ? JM: It’s grown tremendously. In 2015, the board committed to a strategy focused on delivering consistent, industry- leading grower returns. That required serious investment in food safety, marketing, sales, and production capacity. Today, Blue Diamond is a major player in the snack nut category, a leader in plant-based beverages, and a fierce competitor in the ingredients space.
what it takes to serve on the board of directors. But first, please tell us a bit about your farming operation and how you became a Blue Diamond member. John Monroe (JM): Our farm is based in Arbuckle, where we grow a few blocks of almonds. We planted our first block in 1998, but our ag journey started earlier with my father-in-law, Bill Warne. After retiring as California’s director of Water Resources in 1966, Bill returned to agriculture, bought land in Arbuckle, and partnered with local grower Bob Henderson to plant walnuts. We joined Blue Diamond in 1982, planting our first almond block in what we thought was an innovative layout. Turns out we had the wrong varieties planted too densely, but thankfully, it was a small block. We learned a lot and have been improving ever since. Today, we’re working with the third generation of Hendersons, many of whom are Blue Diamond members. Every new planting is a chance to apply what we’re learning and try something better. Photo credit: Paul Wilkinson Photography
AF: What are you most proud of during your board service ?
JM: Hiring Kai Bockmann as CEO in 2022 was the biggest move. It’s the most important decision a board can make. Kai brings energy and focus; he challenges us to think bigger and move faster to strengthen grower returns. I’m also proud that we’ve delivered industry-leading returns for nine straight years. We’re aligned on a clear goal: maximizing value for our growers, now and in the future. Another highlight is the Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program (OSIP), which rewards growers for sustainable, high-quality practices. It also gives our sales team an edge with customers who prioritize stewardship.
AF: Were you always interested in being a farmer ?
JM: Not at all. I grew up in New Jersey near the Meadowlands, with a view of the New York City skyline from my house. If you’d told me in high school that I’d end up in agriculture, I wouldn’t have believed you. But I’ve had so much fun with the farming adventure.
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