(from left to right) Mel Machado, Kai Bockmann, Dean LaVallee and Raj Joshi discuss Blue Diamond Growers’ new Strategic Plan. Photo credit: Herta Wright
Chilé ‘N Lime won the “Best Nuts” award in PEOPLE Magazine’s 2023 Food Awards
The Blue Diamond Innovation team will continue to work with new flavors while advancing new and existing categories, including plant-based yogurt, chocolate, baking, beverages and plant-based cheese. On the foodservice front, the strategic growth plan focus is already delivering results. The Blue Diamond International Consumer and Innovation teams worked closely with a strategic partner in South Korea in the past year to develop Almond Breeze ® Barista Blend, which was introduced in 6,500 Starbucks across China earlier this year. “I’m confident that Blue Diamond Growers is poised to thrive in the years to come because we are stronger together,” said Bockmann. “We are excited to grow together as we bring our strategic plan and collective vision to life.” Supporting Grower Success and Advancing Sustainability In addition to tackling the marketplace challenges with strategy, innovation and expansion, Blue Diamond Growers also created a new grower-focused buying coalition. To help connect growers with trusted, well-known suppliers and build local, long-term relationships, Blue Diamond’s Growers Connect Marketplace aims to reduce input costs for farmers by negotiating better discounts with suppliers via group
Almond Breeze ® Barista Blend was introduced in 6,500 Starbucks across China earlier this year
purchasing organizations and the co-ops’ own internal platform. The goal of the marketplace is to reduce growers’ input costs by 5-15%.
Additionally, a notable highlight from the year is Blue Diamond Growers ’ advancements in sustainability. To continue growing the cooperative’s commitment to stewardship, Blue Diamond ’s Member Relations team held several online webinars encouraging grower participation in Blue Diamond ’s Orchard Stewardship Incentive Program (OSIP), a program where growers can earn financial incentives for implementing best practices related to orchard management, environmental issues, occupational health and safety, and community investment. These webinars also hosted the
Blue Diamond’s Growers Connect Marketplace aims to reduce production costs for farmers by negotiating better discounts with suppliers
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NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2023
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