CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
“GROWING TOGETHER” ANNUAL MEETING 2023
Chairman’s Speech
The theme of our annual meeting and annual report this year was Growing Together . The belief that we are stronger together is the ideal our co-op was founded upon in 1910. My family has been part of this co-op for nearly 100 years. And I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more challenging year for us as almond growers. We’ve experienced a combination of weather anomalies that led to significant quality challenges, and economic conditions that created problems for consumers, customers, and growers alike. This has produced weak market conditions and increased our operational costs, as growers, to unprecedented — some would say devastating — levels.
Dan Cummings Chairman of the Board
As one of our member families, the Navarras, shared in the wonderful video shown during the Annual Meeting luncheon, through good years and bad, the strength of our co-op helps sustain our farms, our livelihood. That’s why, despite the crop year we’ve experienced, I’ve never been more optimistic about the future of Blue Diamond . Veterans Day was observed around the country the weekend before Annual Meeting. I want to
acknowledge and thank all the growers and team members throughout Blue Diamond who have served in the military. We are grateful for your service and honored to have you as part of our Blue Diamond Growers family. Each year in recognition of Veterans Day, our Blue Diamond facilities host flag raising ceremonies and special breakfasts for our team members and retirees who are veterans. This year, our Sacramento site also sponsored and hosted a care package assembly event where 30 volunteers packed 50 boxes filled with Blue Diamond products and necessities donated by our employees for troops around the world. Also this past September, Blue Diamond employees participated in Move America Forward’s Annual Pack-a-thon to help assemble an incredible 2001 care packages for troops in remembrance of 9/11.
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ALMOND FACTS
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