NEWS IN A NUTSHELL
Blue Diamond ’ s Salida Site Designated “Star Site” by Cal/OSHA Blue Diamond Growers received the “Star Site” designation through Cal/OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) at our Salida, CA, facility. The designation recognizes
employers who have voluntarily managed outstanding safety and health programs. Only 63 California worksites, including Blue Diamond, share the “Star Site” recognition. “ Blue Diamond ’s success as the world's largest almond company hinges on the safety of our operations and the wellbeing of our team members. I am proud that this milestone achievement validates our commitment to safety culture,” said Jeff Hatfield, Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for Blue Diamond . Blue Diamond hosted a Cal/OSHA flag-raising ceremony at the Blue Diamond , Salida site, with a luncheon celebrating the employee-driven safety scores. VIP guests included Sue Zwahlen (Mayor of Modesto), Terry Schulte (VPPPA National Chairperson), Katie Hagen (Director, Department of Industrial Relations), and Debra Lee (Chief, Cal/OSHA). The VIP guests joined Kai Bockmann ( Blue Diamond President and CEO) and Victor Gomez Terres ( Blue Diamond , Salida Site Director) in giving remarks congratulating the Cooperative on its high safety scores and its dedication to the wellbeing of grower-owners and employees alike.
Blue Diamond’s President & CEO, Kai Bockmann, visits with team members
In 2023, Blue Diamond Growers began the rigorous application to demonstrate exceptional safety at the Blue Diamond , Salida facility. This included numerous audits, formal interviews and a comprehensive review of the facility’s employee- driven safety program. As with all Star Site designees, the facility proved that their work-related injury and illness rates over the last three years were 90 percent below industry average. “This [designation] is a great accomplishment,” said Sue Zwahlen, Mayor of Modesto. “I’m an RN who served for 42 years in the ER, so I understand how important safety is... Blue Diamond has a strong and positive presence in our community. They have a rich history of being a responsible partner in our community.”
Public recognitions like the Star Site designation not only establish Blue Diamond as a high-value member of the local Central Valley community: they also add value to the Cooperative in front of potential customers looking for ingredient suppliers who care about environmental stewardship and their employees’ wellbeing. Blue Diamond ’s Salida facility has received and processed its farmers’ almonds since 1969. Today, it is the largest almond receiving center in the world. With eight warehouses and multiple processing lines, millions of pounds of almonds are either received or shipped out of the facility on any given day. The Cooperative’s ability to bring delicious, healthy products to the world would not be possible without its strong commitment to the health and safety of its team members.
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ALMOND FACTS
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