ANNUAL MEETING
Almond Board of California Almond Stewardship Platform and technical partners, the Pollinator Partnership and Project Apis m ., to discuss and educate growers on Bee-Friendly Farming. In July of this year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) awarded Blue Diamond a five-year, $45 million “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities” grant, a program designed to help farmers implement climate-smart practices on their land. The program offers growers no-cost cover crop seed and a financial incentive to plant cover crops and/or conservation cover on their land. These practices not only work toward taking carbon out of the atmosphere, but they also enhance
orchard biodiversity and improve soil health. The USDA Climate-Smart grant complements Blue Diamond’ s OSIP by lowering the cost of implementing the pollinator-friendly practices required to receive Bee-Friendly Farming certification.
Blue Diamond Announces New Board Chairman and Industry Recognitions In addition to sharing a vision for the future and highlights from the past year, Blue Diamond Growers announced a new Board Chairman and recognized the efforts of industry leaders.
Steve Van Duyn was elected to serve as the new Blue Diamond Board Chairman. Van Duyn is a longtime almond farmer and Blue Diamond grower who has served on Blue Diamond Growers ’ Board of Directors, representing District 5, since 2005 and served as Vice Chair since 2021. Van Duyn is the owner, president, and CEO of Van Duyn Family Farms in Ripon where he and his family grow almonds, walnuts, grapes and cherries. Van Duyn enters his role as newly elected chairman from current Board Chair, Dan Cummings — a third-generation almond farmer from Chico — after a distinguished 17 years of service on the Blue Diamond Board. “We cannot underestimate the incredible impact that Dan has had on the success of Blue Diamond Growers during his leadership on the board,” said Bockmann. “His wisdom, dedication, business accumen, global industry knowledge and steadfast commitment to progress — in any marketplace condition — has served the growers of Blue Diamond incredibly well and will be positively felt for many years to come. As Dan transitions leadership to Steve Van Duyn we are excited for the start of this new chapter and working together to carry on the legacy of service that Dan so admirably exemplified.”
Steve Van Duyn enters his role as newly elected Board Chair. Photo credit: Gerry McIntyre
In addition to the new Board Chairman announcement, long-time industry champion, Julian Heron, was recognized for his remarkable leadership on behalf of Blue Diamond Growers . As a long-time, highly influential advocate, Heron is credited with advancing Blue Diamond Growers ’ voice and positions in Washington, D.C. for more than five decades. Among his many accomplishments are creation of the Market Access Program (MAP), a program that has benefited Blue Diamond Growers and countless other agricultural entities over the years. Heron was also instrumental in securing high-profile Blue Diamond Grower s’ representation on Presidential Advisory Boards during the Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations to ensure Blue Diamond Growers had a seat at the table at the highest levels of federal decision making and policy-related input. Also participating in the recognition was Julian’s colleague, Lynn Jacquez, who will help lead Blue Diamond ’s federal advocacy initiatives moving forward.
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ALMOND FACTS
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