July-August 2024

This issue of Almond Facts highlights a federal update from Blue Diamond's advocates in Washington, showcases the application of the $45 million USDA Climate-Smart Commodities grant to special visitor Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, and provides an exclusive interview with Blue Diamond's Chief Commercial Officer, Carmen Bourgaize.

NEWS, VIEWS, AND INDUSTRY INSIGHT

JULY-AUGUST 2024

A Chat with BDG‘s CCO, Carmen Bourgaize

USDA Under Secretary Bonnie Visits an Orchard

Federal Update from our Advocates

All Top Self-Fertile Varieties Now Available

INDEPENDENCE ® (ALM-21 CV.)

YORIZANE (Y116-161-99) SHASTA ®

ASK ABOUT OTHER NEW SELF-FERTILE OPTIONS!

PAUL SMITH

BOB FURMIDGE

RANDY FASANI

JOSH BERGMAN

MATTHEW HADDON

Contact your local field representative! Sierragoldtrees.com/reps • (530) 674-1145

Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication.

ALMOND FACTS

JULY–AUG 2024

Contents

8 FIELD TEAM 10 MARKET REPORT 14 NEWS IN A NUTSHELL 22 CORNERING THE MARKET 28 MEMBERSHIP BASICS 30 GROWING THE GOODNESS 36 ADVOCACY REPORT 38 IN YOUR ORCHARD 46 CLASSIFIED ADS

Features 6 President’s Corner

22 A Conversation with CCO, Carmen Bourgaize Blue Diamond’ s Chief Commercial Officer, Carmen Bourgaize, shares with Almond Facts about her in-depth experience before joining Blue Diamond , how the future of the cooperative is informed by the strategic growth plan and what can be expected in the months to come, all in this exclusive interview . 36 Federal Update with Jacquez and McBride Blue Diamond ’s advocates in Washington DC, Lynn Jacquez and Stacy McBride, share updates on Congress, the Farm Bill, government funding and international trade.

President and CEO, Kai Bockmann discusses the upcoming harvest and crop forecast, Blue Diamond ’s commitment to caring for its hardworking growers and celebrates the graduates of the 2024 Blue Diamond Leadership Program. 18 USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie’s Fruitful Visit to Blue Diamond Learn about USDA Under Secretary Bonnie’s Blue Diamond orchard and Almond Innovation Center ® visit. The cooperative was proud to share about the many member-growers who have participated in on-farm projects utilizing funds from the $45 million USDA Climate-Smart Commodities grant the cooperative was awarded in 2023.

ON THE COVER: The almond orchards are getting even closer to harvest! Photo credit: Mel Machado, VP of Member Relations, Blue Diamond Growers.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

Matthew Efird | Fresno Joe Huston | Monterey Kristin Daley | San Francisco

Kai Bockmann, President and CEO

ALMOND FACTS STAFF Blue Diamond Growers Communications Department, communications@bdgrowers.com

Jillian Luna, Managing Editor Jake Sonke, Assistant Editor Mel Machado, Contributing Photographer Gray Allen, Advertising Sales 916.783.4334 & 916.765.3234

Blue Diamond , the world’s largest processor and marketer of almonds, exports to over 100 countries.

Almond Facts , established in 1922, is published bimonthly by Blue Diamond Growers , 1802 C Street, Sacramento, California 95811. Address all correspondence to the Editor, Almond Facts , P.O. Box 1768, Sacramento, California 95812. Advertising subscription rates provided upon request. Blue Diamond is a registered trademark and marketing brand of Blue Diamond Growers . Other registered trademarks are The Almond People, Smokehouse, Golden State, Celebration, From the Valleys of California, Confetti and Almond Facts . Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication. Blue Diamond reserves the right to refuse advertising. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

AlmondFacts.com

BlueDiamond.com

ALMOND FACTS

FIELD DAY FRIDAY, 9 AUGUST 2024 9:00AM TO 11:00AM HIGH QUALITY • SELF-FERTILE • NO ROYALTY Y116-161-99, Released by the U.S.D.A

DEWITT RANCH, 2200 SANTA FE AVE, MODESTO CA 95357

Graft with the best clonal rootstocks on the market, such as Brights Hybrid 5, Krymsk 86, Hansen, and Viking. (c.v. Arthur V) US PP18,782 P3 (c.v. AP1) US PP16,272 P3

Duarte Nursery Clean. Clonal. Containerized.

1-800-GRAFTED duartenursery.com sales@duartenursery.com

Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication.

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Summer has turned up the heat this year in California, creating uncomfortable conditions for almond orchards and their growers! The high temperatures you have endured over the past few weeks have created significant stress for all involved. But I‘m happy to say that, as I write this note, it appears that your dedication, perseverance and hard work are about to pay off with the start of the harvest.

Compared to last year, improved pollination opportunities have resulted in a larger crop, which was confirmed by the USDA National Ag Statistics Service estimates. The newly released 2024 California Almond Objective Measurement Report predicted a 2.8-billion- pound harvest for this year. Despite the larger crop, increased industry sales and shipments are producing a significantly smaller carryover this year, prompting the response to the Objective Forecast as an approximate $0.20 per pound increase in pricing. As nurturing our orchards requires dedication and an investment of resources, our path at Blue Diamond reflects a similar commitment to cultivating success. We have invested in new initiatives, and while it takes time to see results, we are eager to reap the fruits of our labor. As we continue to expand into new markets and focus on driving consumption in ways that will strengthen our value-added business, we remain committed to growing sustainably for the future. During my recent visit to board member, George te Velde’s home, I was glad to meet with some of you as we celebrated the graduation of our Leadership Program. To date, the program boasts over 500 graduates and is a crucial channel for leadership in our industry. Marking

its 20th year, the program is a symbol of the shared spirit that unites each one of you and the almond community. Meeting so many of our talented leaders highlights the deep-rooted family traditions within our cooperative, bringing in new energy and fresh ideas. For me, family is really what it’s all about. Leading a cooperative family of 4,500 of our growers and team members is a privilege, and each person is key to our success. My family relocated here to Sacramento almost a year ago and it has been a blessing beyond measure to have them with me as I focus on leading Blue Diamond towards a stronger future. I had a wonderful time meeting with many of you at the District Meetings, and I look forward to meeting even more of you at our Annual Meeting on November 20 in Modesto. Thank you for your unwavering commitment and hard work. Together, we’re cultivating not just almonds, orchards, and trees, but a legacy of excellence and resilience to stay for many years to come.

Kai Bockmann President & CEO

ALMOND FACTS

JULY–AUGUST 2024

FIELD TEAM

Regional Managers

Vice President, Member Relations Mel Machado

Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Sutter, & Yuba Christine Ivory, (530) 518-9109 Colusa, Yolo & Solano Nicole Jansen, (530) 338-6440 Sacramento County, San Joaquin County, North of Hwy 205 & East of San Joaquin River KC Clendenin, (209) 596-5375 San Joaquin County, West of San Joaquin River & South of Hwy 205 Stanislaus County, North of Tuolumne River & Hwy 132 Justin Elam, (209) 303-7306 Stanislaus County, East of Hwy 99, South of Tuolumne River Austin Jackson, (209) 417-2010 Stanislaus County, West of Hwy 99, South of Tuolumne River, South of Grayson & Howard Road’s West of San Joaquin River Merced County, North of Merced River & Hills Ferry & Stuhr Roads Trent Voss, (209) 470-5981 Merced County, South of Merced River & Hills Ferry Merced County, South of Hwy 140 Madera County, North of Avenue 12, Firebaugh Blvd, Avenue 7½, & W. Nees Avenue Carla Youngblood, (559) 240-0906 Madera County, South of Avenue 12, Firebaugh Blvd, Avenue 7½ & W. Nees Avenue, Fresno County, North of Hwy 201/Avenue 400, North of Conejo Avenue & Kamm Fresno County, South of Hwy 201/Avenue 400, South of Conejo Avenue & Kamm Avenue, East of Derrick Avenue, Tulare County, Kings County, & Kern County Anthony Scudder, (559) 470-9731 Membership Office Jennifer Claussen Supervisor – Member Relations Administration (209) 545-6225 & Stuhr Roads, North of Hwy 140 Kenny Miyamoto, (209) 323-8454 Avenue, West of Derrick Avenue Ashley Correia, (559) 356-1584

(209) 545-6222 – Salida (209) 531-6352 – Cellular Director, Member Relations Ben Goudie (209) 225-0413

Daniel Dekeyrel Member Relations Coordinator (Delivery Tags) (209) 545-6261

ALMOND FACTS

2024 Grower Liaison Committee Members

LEGEND

DISTRICT 1

DISTRICT 2

Dan Cummings Fred Montgomery

John Monroe Elaine Rominger Gerald Rominger Jake Driver Ron Tadlock Jake Spooner

Chairman Vice-Chairman Ex-Officio Director Appointed (Member-at-Large) Almond Board Alternate

Daniel Varner Greg Overton

Darcy Jones Kevin Davies Timothy Perraie John Nock Meredith Christopher P. Samantha Lewis Larry Bradley Luke Konyn Tom Knowles

Amy Abele Kelli Evans

Carole M. Cain Catherine Cain Josh Pippit Catherine Marsh Michael Samra

Jacob Amsler Dustin Timothy

DISTRICT 3

DISTRICT 4

Dale Van Groningen Allen Sipma Bert Van Ryn Rudy Mussi Zack Reinstein Bruce Oosterkamp Donald Drake Noah Andersen Dirk Van Laar Tim Mohler Jeff Stuit Jack Dalton Clayton Bogetti

George te Velde Kevin Fondse Kenneth Roos Tim Roos Mike Ballatore

Dawn Price Ian Koetsier Lance Ioppini Wesley Eisenga Matt Visser Rick Van Vliet Spencer Franceschetti Martin Adrian Lukas Doornenbal Ed Tilma

For Grower Liaison contact information, please contact your regional manager.

DISTRICT 5

DISTRICT 6

DISTRICT 8

DISTRICT 9

DISTRICT 7

Stephen Van Duyn Neil Van Duyn Brandon Riddle Mark Giannini Dennis Bowers Arthur Bowman Matt Fredriks Harry (Sonny) Johns Danielle Higby LeBeouf Tim Baker James Kinzie

Nick Blom Charles Crivelli III Steve Vilas Eric Genzoli Rod Vilas Rick Alvernaz Gary Marchy Dirk Van Konyenburg

Matt Efird George Goshgarian Aldo Sansoni Mike Yager Neil Amaral Mason McKinney Blake Little Colin Unruh Daniel Babshoff Melvin Lubisich Nayiri Saghdejian John Locker Andrew Cunha Ryan Metzler Michael Keith Smith

Kent Stenderup Clinton Shick Mark Tos Benjamin Wilson Paramjit Dosanjh Lisa Marroquin Shaminder S. Brar Gerard A. Loaiza

Dan Mendenhall Robert J. Weimer David P. Souza James Ohki Jason Chandler Dan Smith Dan Clendenin Rodney L. Voumard Michael Temnyk Rodney E. Ratzlaff Jr. Steve Moeller John Pereira Bryan Jacobs Rick Scoto

Justin Romero Derek Coelho Robert Mailloux Steve Scheuber Allen Peterson Jeff Lee Matt Romero

Chris Couture Pete Romanini Ankit Behl

Gordon Heinrich Chris Vanderstoel Jon Beck

Sam Ghilarducci Garrett Gilcrease John Allen

JULY–AUGUST 2024

MARKET REPORT

ALMOND MARKET UPDATE

Blue Diamond Almond Market Update – July 2024

OVERVIEW June shipments met industry expectations reaching 206.2 million pounds. This marks a 9% decrease from last month and a 10.5% increase from the same time last year. Domestic shipments were 62.0 million pounds, reflecting a 2% increase over last year, while export shipments were up 15% compared to last year at 144.1 million pounds. These results continue the theme of strong shipments observed throughout the season, leading to a year-to-date shipment increase of 5.7% compared to the previous season. With one month remaining in the crop year, the industry is on pace to ship over 2.7 billion pounds, ending the year with a carryout of around 485 million pounds.

SHIPMENTS India:

India continues its strong pace with 26.9 million pounds in shipments for the month, recording a 74% increase from last year. Year-to-date shipments have increased 24% compared to the previous season. Leading up to the objective estimate, buyers have been relatively quiet. However, now that the report has been released, activity is expected to resume. With a smaller crop projection, California prices are firming, making local Indian prices more attractive and more likely to drive increased demand. Additionally, an earlier Diwali festival is expected to further boost demand. China/Hong Kong/Vietnam: Shipments to the region are still facing obstacles, amounting to 5.5 million pounds for the month. This marks a 52% decrease compared to last year and a 14.7% decrease year-to-date. Lower than usual demand continues to challenge the region with buyers remaining quiet in June after an active May. At present, local prices are lower than California offers. Buyers are expected to maintain a cautious approach until demand increases. The upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival in September is expected to present an opportunity for improvement.

ALMOND FACTS

Europe: Shipments to the region totaled 43.5 million pounds, an 11% decrease compared to last year with year-to-date shipments 2% higher than the previous season. Like other regions, market activity was quiet in the two weeks preceding the Objective Estimate. Buyers awaited the forecast to instill some confidence that prices would not dip from their current levels. Buying activity is expected to increase as this region has more demand to fulfill to cover new crop supplies. Middle East: This region continues to show persistent growth with June shipments of 31.3 million pounds, marking a 145% increase from last year and an 18% increase year-to-date. Following the Objective Estimate, many in the market adopted a cautious approach. Buyers have their short-term needs covered and will wait for pricing to stabilize before making further decisions. Overall, demand is expected to remain steady into the new crop. Domestic: June shipments reached over 62 million pounds continuing the upward trend for the third consecutive month, with a 1.9% increase from June 2023. Year-to-date domestic shipments totaled 675 million pounds, a 2.3% increase compared to last year. The industry needs to ship 41.4 million pounds in July to match last year’s total. Following three years of declining shipments, we expect July to solidify year-over-year growth. COMMITMENTS Total committed shipments are 347 million pounds, a 23% decrease compared to last year. Uncommitted inventories now stand at 338 million pounds, 36% lower than last year. New sales for the current crop have reached 92 million pounds, down 40% compared to last year, which is attributed to the limited pre-Objective Estimate activity. Year-to-date sales after 11 months are 5% higher than last season. Year-to-date new crop sales are 122% higher at 271 million pounds compared to the previous year.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

MARKET REPORT

Assuming a 2.44-billion-pound crop, shipments and commitments now account for 91% of total supply compared to 84% from the previous year. The industry is on pace to achieve a carryout of around 485 million pounds. This estimation factors in a 2% loss and exemption but actual damage this season has been greater than 4%. The additional damage will impact the 2024 carry-in driving this number down below 450 million pounds. This would put stocks/use ratios at 16% to 17%, a level not observed in the past five years. CROP On July 10, the USDA Objective Estimate was published, forecasting 2.8 billion pounds for the 2024 crop. This projection is 7% lower than the Subjective Estimate and 13% higher than the 2023 crop. The forecast is based on 1.38 million bearing acres. This estimate unquestionably caught the market by surprise, prompting prices to firm since its release. Crop development and quality remain a top focus for the industry. Recent heatwaves in California have raised concerns about the impact on the maturing crop, chief among them being a slowdown or halting of the hull split stage. A prolonged hull split may increase susceptibility to insect damage, a concern already on the minds of growers. The impact on harvest timing remains uncertain at this point.

Market Perspective The June position report met industry expectations and maintained a strong pace as the crop year nears its end. Remaining inventories consist of lower quality almonds, leading to limited offers, making for a tight transition to the new crop. The Objective Estimate firmed prices with a smaller forecasted 2024 crop. This, coupled with a favorable carryout, will draw supply closer to demand and contribute to price stability in the global market. With minimal inventories at destination, demand is expected to persist in the weeks leading to harvest. Moving forward, the industry will continue to evaluate the 2024 crop. Post Objective Estimate, our attention now turns to price discovery as market activity is expected to increase in the coming weeks.

Laura Gerhard, Vice President of Ingredients and International Branded, Blue Diamond Growers

ALMOND FACTS

Blue Diamond Growers does not endorse or verify statements made by advertisers within this publication.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

#WeAreBlueDiamond Social Media Activity Blue Diamond enjoyed celebrating Independence Day, which was closely followed by the beginning of hull split. Hull split signals that harvest season is drawing near. The cooperative also expressed excitement over the International Day of Co-Ops and recognized the 25 students who have received the Blue Diamond Growers Foundation Scholarship (read more about these students on page 30).

ALMOND FACTS

BLUE DIAMOND INVESTMENT PROGRAMS Current Investment Rates available as of July 1, 2024

Blue Diamond Growers offers members short-term and long- term investment programs. The objective of these programs is to serve as a competitive investment alternative for our members and to provide Blue Diamond Growers with a steady source of funds. The interest rates effective July 1, 2024, for the program are listed here:

Short-Term Investment Certificate (STIC)

Long-Term Investment Certificate (LTIC) (Maturity Date of 6/30/2027)

Initial Investment Required

$1,000

$50,000

Interest Rate

6.25%

4.50%

(Variable, subject to change)

(Fixed rate)

For more information, contact your local Regional Manager, or Member Services at (209) 545-6225.

This summary does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to purchase investment certificates. We will provide a package of documents for the programs to those members who are California residents and who express an interest in participating in the program.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Blue Diamond Growers Annual Meeting Voting What is a Proxy & Why is a Quorum Needed at Annual Meeting? The Blue Diamond Annual Meeting is more than a luncheon or a social gathering; it is a required business meeting that is defined in the cooperative’s bylaws. To be valid, a quorum of the membership must be present, either in person or by proxy. Since it is a business meeting, the quorum is required if a motion is made from the floor and a vote of the membership is required. Annual General Election It is time for the Blue Diamond annual general elections. This is a great opportunity for you to exercise one of your fundamental rights as a voting member to shape the future of your Blue Diamond Growers cooperative: electing members of the Board of Directors and Grower Liaison Committees. This year, you have the opportunity to vote for District Directors in districts 1, 4 and 6. You also have the opportunity to vote for Grower Liaisons in each of the nine districts. Ballots will be mailed the week of October 3 to voting members with Crop Agency Agreements. Voting will close on November 8, 2024. Only ballots received by this date will be counted. Your vote matters! Be sure to submit your ballot in plenty of time so your vote is received before this deadline. How to Vote Like last year, there are three ways to vote: paper ballot, online, or by phone. Your election packet will include the paper ballot, return envelope and instructions for online and phone voting. This year, if you choose to vote by proxy, you will be able to return the Proxy Card by mail or assign a proxy online.

BY PHONE 3

ONLINE

PAPER

Like last year, you will be able to vote by paper ballot, online or by phone.

BALLOT

This year, you will be able to return the proxy card by mail or assign a proxy online.

PROXY CARD

ONLINE

PAPER

Make Sure You Are Represented — Return the Proxy Card! Not sure if you can attend the annual meeting ? No problem! You may assign your vote to a proxy—another voting member—to vote on your behalf. This year, you will be able to return the Proxy Card by mail or assign a proxy online. Mail in your Proxy Card (separate from the ballot) and rest assured that you are being represented in the election and annual meeting, even if you can’t directly participate. If you do decide to attend the meeting yourself, know that your presence always comes first. The Proxy Card is a backup plan for if you can’t attend.

ALMOND FACTS

GROWING TOGETHER MODESTO CENTRE PLAZA | 1000 L ST. | MODESTO, CA

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

USDA Under Secretary, Robert Bonnie, Visits a Blue Diamond Orchard and the Almond Innovation Center®

Blue Diamond showcased their application of the $45 million Climate-Smart Commodities Grant awarded by the USDA

The USDA Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation, Robert Bonnie, met with Blue Diamond team members for an orchard tour followed by a discussion at the Almond Innovation Center ® in Sacramento. Joining Under Secretary Bonnie were members of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Division: State Conservationist, Carlos Suarez, Deputy State Conservationist, RaeAnn Dubay, State Resource Conservationist, Jon Gustafson, and Public Affairs and Outreach Director, Jonathan Groveman. Mr. Bonnie and the NRCS team toured Blue Diamond farmer Ben King’s orchard along with Blue Diamond team members. Dr. Dan Sonke, Head of Sustainability for Blue Diamond, provided insight into the engagement Blue Diamond ’s participating farmers, like King, have made with the $45 million USDA Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities grant awarded to Blue Diamond . The project is one of approximately 140 grant projects being funded by the USDA’s Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities. The USDA is investing $3 billion to build and expand markets for commodities made with climate-smart practices. To advance rural communities, the department hopes to increase the competitive advantage of U.S. agriculture both domestically and internationally. These climate-smart projects support a diverse range of producers and operations as they voluntarily adopt climate-smart agricultural practices and market their climate-smart commodities.

The Blue Diamond team shared the work they are accomplishing with grant partners: Project Apis m . (P Am .) and Pollinator Partnership (P2). P Am . provides participating Blue Diamond farmers with funds and resources to plant temporary cover crops through the “Seeds for Bees” program and perennial conservation cover. P2 supports Blue Diamond farmers implementing permanent pollinator habitat with hedgerows. These practices are supported by the USDA’s grant, which was awarded to Blue Diamond in 2023, and is being disbursed over five years to support participating farmers’ sustainability activities and to develop markets for those climate-smart commodities. Under Secretary Bonnie was shown that, like many Blue Diamond farmers, King’s application of the USDA- awarded Climate-Smart Grant has enhanced his ability to

Dr. Dan Sonke, Head of Sustainability, Blue Diamond Growers discusses Blue Diamond‘s utilization of the $45 million USDA grant with Under Secretary Robert Bonnie at the Almond Innovation Center ®

I appreciate what you [Blue Diamond] are doing with the grant to help position American agriculture as a leader in delivering climate solutions. —Robert Bonnie, USDA Under Secretary

ALMOND FACTS

Blue Diamond farmer, Ben King, Under Secretary Bonnie, and King‘s Ranch Property Manager, Mike Powell

implement conservation practices across his land, which is especially relevant in the current economically challenging environment. This year, cover crops were successfully established in all the King farm’s orchards. “Under Secretary Bonnie’s and the local NRCS partnerships have made it possible for Blue Diamond farmers to install practices like cover crops, hedgerows and conservation cover, that are so beneficial to the wellbeing of pollinators and local wildlife,” said Dr. Dan Sonke. “The Partnership for Climate-Smart Commodities funding has made a significant impact for many of our growers. We are grateful for this partnership and look forward to doing even more together and deepening our efforts with them in the coming years.” After the orchard tour, Under Secretary Bonnie joined Blue Diamond ’s Chief Government & Public Affairs Officer, Alicia Rockwell and Vice President of Member Relations, Mel Machado, at the Blue Diamond Almond Innovation Center ® in Sacramento. Mr. Bonnie sampled several of Blue Diamond ’s latest innovations, including Thin Dipped almonds and Almond Breeze ® Almond & Oat Blend, while hearing from Blue Diamond ’s Strategic Growth Accounts

Lead, Bobby McCuan. McCuan shared about Blue Diamond ’s domestic and global reach.

Under Secretary Bonnie discussed the crucial partnership between the USDA and Blue Diamond and wishes to keep an open discussion about how the USDA can further bolster Blue Diamond ’s efforts to continue advancing its farmers’ sustainability practices and creating opportunities for new sources of revenue through the development of climate- smart markets. Mr. Bonnie closed by sharing that he is pleased with Blue Diamond ’s application of the funds by saying, “I appreciate what you [ Blue Diamond ] are doing with the grant to help position American agriculture as a leader in delivering climate solutions.”

Jillian Luna, Communications Manager, Blue Diamond Growers

JULY–AUGUST 2024

NEWS IN A NUTSHELL

Almond Breeze ® Banana Coconut Ice Pops Prep Time: 3.5 hours Difficulty: Easy Servings: 2

Ingredients 21/3 cups Almond Breeze ®

Directions 1. Place ½ ounce (about 2-3 slices) of banana in the bottom of each ice pop mold. Pour ¼ cup of your choice of Almond Breeze ® Almondmilk over bananas. 2. Place ice pop mold on a tray in the freezer for 30-45 minutes. (This helps hold bananas in place before adding more almondmilk.) Once partially frozen, add 3-4 more banana slices and top all ice pops off with more almondmilk, leaving ¼ inch at the top to allow for expansion when freezing. 3. Freeze for 2-3 hours or overnight. Before serving, pour ½ cup Almond Breeze ® Almondmilk in a small bowl. Remove ice pops from container and dip the tip of each ice pop in the almondmilk and then coat in the coconut shavings.

Almondmilk Blended with Real Bananas or Almond

Breeze ® Unsweetened Original Almondmilk Coconutmilk blend

1¼ cups sliced or diced firm, ripe bananas ½ cup coconut flakes

ALMOND FACTS

Tropical Smoothie Bowl Prep Time: 15 minutes Difficulty: Easy Servings: 2

Ingredients 2 containers (5.3 oz.) yogurt ½ cup Almond Breeze ® Almondmilk Blended with Real Bananas ½ cup frozen mango ½ cup frozen pineapple 2 Tablespoons coconut chips 1½ cups assorted sliced fruit like kiwi, mango and/or banana 2 teaspoons hemp seeds Directions 1. In a blender, combine yogurt, Almond Breeze ® Blended with Real Bananas Almondmilk, mango and pineapple.

2. Blend about 1 minute or until smooth.

3. Divide mixture between bowls and top with coconut chips, sliced fruit and hemp seeds.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

CORNERING THE MARKET

A Conversation with Carmen Bourgaize, Chief Commercial Officer for Blue Diamond

Almond Facts was pleased to spend some time with Carmen Bourgaize, Chief Commercial Officer for Blue Diamond. Bourgaize shared how Blue Diamond‘s commercial reach is expanding and what the cooperative is doing to ensure Blue Diamond‘s continued success around the world.

Almond Facts (AF) Thank you for joining us here at Almond Facts, Carmen! We’re looking forward to learning the latest in commercial and

team of talented individuals to implement the plan. This was vital because it doesn’t matter if you have the largest marketing budget and the best products; it’s not going anywhere without a clear plan and a strong team. Together we had tremendous success through brand development and expansion, innovation and sales growth. AF That’s amazing! What a wonderful career you’ve had so far. I know that we can really lean on your experience for more growth for Blue Diamond . How do you see your experience aiding in Blue Diamond ’s success ?

the great successes you and your team have been working hard to achieve. But first, let’s take a moment to get to know you better. Could you share about yourself and some highlights from your amazing career in food service, sales, and strategic business development ? Carmen Bourgaize (CB) I’ve been working in sales and marketing in the food/CPG sector for over 20 years. I started out in confectionary sales and then moved over to one of the largest dairy companies in the world where I led account teams on the food service side of the business. I’ve always had a passion for sales, and I was in my element creating winning partnerships with customers, strategizing to outperform the competition and creating high-performance teams. Over time, my role expanded, and I eventually shifted from sales to marketing and business development. I was most recently the senior vice president of Strategic Business Development, where I was leading the team responsible for a large portfolio of major retail and food service dairy brands. My team was responsible for consumer and market insights, commercial strategy, innovation, revenue management, product management, marketing and ecommerce sales. Together we leveraged data and company expertise to create a winning strategy, and we assembled an incredible

CB Blue Diamond already has two leading brands that are beloved by consumers. Almond Breeze ® is the number one brand in almondmilk and we’re also the number one brand in snack almonds. We’re well established and leading by a large margin, which is a fantastic place to begin. In the U.S., it’s difficult to find a retailer that doesn’t carry our products. To drive growth, we must expand our reach and bring more products and innovation to retailers and give consumers more reasons to pick up our products.

I’m excited about our strong strategic growth plan and we’re ensuring we find additional new markets to grow in whether it’s food service, ecommerce or international

ALMOND FACTS

markets. And innovation! Our two leading brands need continued investment to stay relevant and meet our consumers’ changing needs. People have changing habits; some have different dietary requirements and many have new financial pressures. Our brands must be ready to meet all consumer needs and we have dynamic plans to take our brands to new places and drive growth. AF I love that aggressive growth! Let’s talk more about innovation. We have many incredible products and ingredients out there. Is there still room for innovation ? CB People love our products! We wouldn’t have been around for over 100 years if they didn’t, and there are so many applications and usage occasions for our products. Our ingredients customers are doing wonderful things with almonds. Since almonds have such an incredible nutritional profile, they remain relevant, but the vehicles in which we bring them to consumers could expand. For instance, how can we make it more convenient to consume almonds and almondmilk ? How do we make it available everywhere our customers are ? This is where we’re focusing our innovation to make sure we’re maximizing our strengths, like our snacking flavors. Nobody does flavor better than Blue Diamond . As flavor trends change, we will be there to lead

We know ag nancing like you know how to land the o ce with the best view.

For over a century we’ve served customers who can do just about anything. You deserve a financial partner who works as hard as you do.

Learn more at AgWestFC.com

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

We’re ensuring that people develop a preference for Blue Diamond almonds because of their top quality, great nutrition, and the fantastic people who grow them. It’s a wonderful responsibility. It’s an honor.

JULY–AUGUST 2024

CORNERING THE MARKET

the charge. With all the applications for almonds, our portfolio has incredible reach and potential!

We don’t move product in club anywhere like we move it in Canada. When you mention Blue Diamond in Canada, people list the flavors they’ve tried from the club channel because they love them and that’s how they’re discovering them.

AF Yes, absolutely. I like that you’re talking about being innovative, not just with the product itself, but in how our existing and new customers access it. So, other than our delicious product that’s loved around the world, what else drew you to join Blue Diamond ? CB Blue Diamond is privileged to market a product that is good for you and comes from good people. Our amazing grower families truly appealed to me. Serving them is something I can feel proud of. It’s purposeful work. Our farmers grow these first-class almonds as their livelihood, and they need Blue Diamond to be the intermediary that gets them the best possible demand and financial return for that product. Part of that is understanding what consumers, retailers and food service customers need. We’re ensuring that people develop a preference for Blue Diamond almonds because of their top quality, great nutrition, and the fantastic people who grow them. It’s a wonderful responsibility. It’s an honor. The commercial function is that connecting point from moving the product off the farm and into the hands of consumers and customers around the world. It’s our job to maximize those returns. It’s not easy work, but it’s worthwhile. AF I know we’ve been discussing our wins lately. Some were mentioned in the growers’ webinar with Kai and Mel back in April, but could you share more of Blue Diamond ’s wins that have been secured along with those coming up ? CB We’ve accomplished a lot over the past few months. We’ve had wins with some of the biggest retailers in the U.S. We’re also breaking into channels, like natural foods, in a bigger way. Not every consumer in the grocery store will head down the snack nut aisle and they don’t all visit the plant-based milk section or the cracker section, so we’re working to interrupt them and delight them throughout the

store with features, displays and promotions. Consumer awareness takes time, so we are making sure we stand behind new products we launch. New products like Thin Dipped Almonds keep growing. This summer we launched them across the Albertson’s chain of stores. As I’m traveling around for

work, I’m always excited to pick up Thin Dipped Almonds in the airport. Several major convenience retailers have recently added Thin Dipped Almonds in smaller grab-and- go sizes. This fall you’ll see us expanding our ecommerce with the Amazon platform and continuing to bring new, exciting things to the club channel as well. We have many more flavors and formats for consumers to discover. There’s also great work happening on the ingredients and international side. Our new partner in Japan is working with us on Almond Breeze ® and they have aggressive growth plans, too. We’re working on snack nuts expansion for Europe, and we’ve added a new team member to help us with expansion in the Middle East. We also have new folks working with us on commodities and ingredients. Some of

ALMOND FACTS

TGS IS IN THE ZONE Better Water Penetration With The Schmeiser Orchard Max Aerator

our long-time ingredients sales folks have gained some very large bookings in this space. Customers know they can count on our quality and service, and when they hear about our growers and sustainability practices, they feel good when they purchase from us! The sales team has done a great job communicating all the great things our growers do from a sustainability perspective and they continue to book millions and millions of pounds of almonds that go into many of your favorite products. There’s a lot to be proud of! AF Wonderful! Can we talk about the great market opportunity in Canada ? Please share what you’ve been doing there and some of Blue Diamond ’s wins in that market.

Patented Smart-Till tines fracture and open the soil 8” deep with little soil disturbance. Breaks hardened soil for longer irrigation sets and less ponding in the row middles. Delivering water and soil amendments directly to the root zone for Max results. • Maximizes water penetration • Increase irrigation runs • Incorporate soil ammendments • Reduces soil compaction • Fast at 6-8 mph reducing cost/acre

Call your dealer for a demo or see the video in action at www.TGSchmeiser.com

Better Root Zone Management from

1-800-288-8128 • www.tgschmeiser.com

CB Yes! We expect our Canadian business to be equally as strong and just as large per capita as our U.S. business. This means our Canadian business should be approximately 10% the size of our U.S. business, so there’s a lot of room for growth. As part of our strategic growth plan, this is the year we’re going to make it happen. To do that, we’ve invested in the team. We have a fantastic new sales director in Canada, Montana Sly, and she is already picking up significant new business

across Canada’s retailers. Our marketing team has a portfolio of flavors and sizes they can break out as needed to meet the tastes of Canadians. Some of our top flavors in the U.S. have a lot of opportunity in Canada. When we put them into the club channel, they fly off the shelves. We don’t move product in club anywhere like we move it in Canada. When you mention Blue Diamond in Canada, people list the flavors they’ve tried from the club channel because they love them and that’s how they’re discovering them. So, there’s room there for flavors like Smokehouse and Chile ‘n’ Lime. Dill Pickle was a huge mover in Canada, too. For the first time ever, Blue Diamond has become a permanent fixture in Walmart’s snack nut aisle. There’s a lot in the works with Canada’s largest retailers to expand the Blue Diamond portfolio and get the right products on the shelves. We’re working hard to ensure that Blue Diamond becomes a household name in Canada like it is in the U.S. We’ve also recently picked up some great Almond Breeze ® business in Canada, so stay tuned!

JULY–AUGUST 2024

CORNERING THE MARKET

At the heart of it, we represent the growers, and we must all get creative and work together to maximize their returns.

AF We will! So, are there any Canada-specific Blue Diamond products coming that you could share about, like Maple Almonds or anything like that ? CB The innovation team does a great job staying ahead of flavors and understanding what’s on trend by market. Yes, we have a portfolio of new flavors crafted for Canadians ready to go and we have some mainstay flavors like Smokehouse and Lightly Salted that need to increase their distribution footprint because they are top sellers for us, and we know people love them. AF Oh, that’s awesome. Have you tried any of the new flavors ? CB Yes, and they’re very delicious. But I develop a new favorite flavor constantly. First, Elote Almonds were my favorite. Then it was Blueberry Almonds. Now it’s Spicy Dill Pickle Almonds. They’re all so delicious! AF They are! It’s hard to keep one favorite when they’re all so good. So, you shared a little about some of the new team members who have joined the commercial team and you’ve expressed the importance of a strong team. What can we expect to see coming from these new team members and their contributions to Blue Diamond ? CB Chris Bolton is our new food service director. Every day, Chris works on our food service business, putting our products

into all the major distribution channels so they are used in culinary, in restaurants, and for grab-and-go opportunities. Craig DeSimone joined as our director of revenue growth management. He advises us on pricing and promotional strategy to make sure we have the right product at the right price at the right place and that we’re using analytics to study the influence pricing has on sales. As I mentioned earlier, our new Canada sales director, Montana Sly is pulling in many wins for us as well. And we’re working to have the right people in all the right accounts, so we’ve hired some key account managers and sales managers to round out the team and connect us to more customers. They’re already having a positive impact on booking us many features, displays and promotions. I’m pleased about that.

AF So you have a lot of confidence in the team ?

CB The team is incredible! We’re finding opportunities for many of our enthusiastic teammates to expand their responsibilities. We have a culture of accountability where team members understand the plan and their role in executing it. There’s such pride from the team when they share an idea. We might decide to run after an idea that a brand new team member has brought forward; if it’s a good idea, it doesn’t matter whose it was. At the heart of it, we represent the growers, and we must all get creative and work together to maximize their returns. We’re leaving no stone unturned.

ALMOND FACTS

AF Are there any other areas of growth that you want to share on ? CB We’re updating our communications and how our brand shows up to meet the ever-changing needs of the consumer. There are many exciting things in the works for the consumer. Whether they’re looking at our packaging on- shelf or seeing a digital ad from us, we want to be sure our core messages reach them. The team is working hard not just on innovating products, but in evolving our brands. So that’s a little bit of a teaser I’ll give you because we’ve got a lot happening with the brands. AF I can’t wait to hear more about that! Are there any closing thoughts you’d like to leave with our Blue Diamond farmers ? CB It’s an honor and a privilege to represent our growers every day. It’s a duty that we take very seriously and I’m extremely optimistic about all the great things in the works that will ensure our brands are the brands people prefer and that the portfolio continues to expand to meet the changing needs of the consumer. I joke with a lot of the growers and Kai that I dream about almonds every night, but I literally do! That’s how seriously I take it. We’re confident in the plan and there are so many exciting things in the works. We’re very enthusiastic about Blue Diamond ’s future!

50 TH ANNIVERSARY 1974-2024

Thank you!

Fan-Jet® Microsprinklers Non-Stop® Drip Emitters Premium Plus Tubing “PCI” Inline Drip Tubing BigFoot® 3.0 Drip Tape

www.bowsmith.com 131 Second St. • Exeter, CA USA American Made Family-Owned

Jillian Luna, Communications Manager, Blue Diamond Growers

JULY–AUGUST 2024

MEMBERSHIP BASICS

The Orchestra of Harvest When it comes time to think about almond harvest, I often refer to it as the “Orchestra.” In an orchestra, a conductor motivates and directs all the musicians playing diverse instruments to bring the final sounds together to create a masterpiece. Even though each musician is reading the same musical score, the conductor nudges some players to add nuances to bring the combined sound to life. This also happens when you, as the almond harvest conductor, set in motion the collaboration amongst all your harvest resources, including multiple pieces of harvest equipment, operators, field trucks, hulling and shelling operations, delivery trucks and the chain of people responsible for your crop. This ends with Blue Diamond receiving the crop and placing it into a warehouse for processing. That is just the first song. The results of that delivery set off another round of activity behind the gates of Blue Diamond culminating in your first delivery advance payment. I wanted to highlight and explain a few lesser-known instruments in the Stockpile Advance, Volume Premium Program and the ability to request a breakdown request, that are available to you to fully optimize your harvest. Should I Stockpile in 2024? No matter how many acres you farm, you may be faced with the option (or requirement in some cases) of stockpiling your almonds before hulling. Most hullers must stockpile a sizable portion of their customer’s product to efficiently schedule their hulling runs for the season. With estimates projecting the 2024 crop to be around 2.8 billion pounds, this year will be no exception as hullers will likely need to run into the next year to finish running their stockpiled product. Most stockpile decisions are based on logistics. Does the huller have the capacity to run the product when it arrives ? The quality of the finished crop is also a consideration. Virtually all orchards have a natural variation in soil types that can produce inconsistency in the moisture of the

crop at harvest. If hulled and shelled immediately upon arrival, this variation can complicate the adjustment of the shelling machinery. When stockpiled properly, this moisture variation can “equalize” within the pile, providing greater consistency during the shelling process and resulting in more efficient shelling and a lower level of chipped and broken kernels. Let me make a very important point: almonds do not dry in a stockpile . The moisture level within the pile will equalize, at best. Almonds should not be stockpiled if the hull moisture is greater than 12% or the kernel moisture is greater than 6%. If piled above these levels, fungal growth within the pile can ruin your crop. With that in mind, one of the recommendations for managing Navel orangeworm is “early harvest.” However, if shaken while still green and not given sufficient time to dry, stockpiling green almonds can create serious problems and a decrease in crop value.

Simply stated, do not stockpile green or high moisture almonds.

To avoid problems with stockpiles, be sure to shake the crop at the proper timing and leave almonds in the orchard to properly dry. If you run into a situation such as a major rain event, please contact your huller immediately or consult with your regional manager for guidance. For more information on stockpile best practices, please refer to the “Stockpile Management” section of your 2024 Crop Delivery Guide. Manage Cash Flow with Stockpile Advances Trade-offs are always part of farming. You may be thinking now that your crop is in a stockpile, what do you do for cash flow ? This is where Blue Diamond ’s Stockpile Advance Program comes into play. You can receive partial payment of the Delivery Advance based on the weight of the crop in each stockpile. This year’s advance is $0.25 per Estimated Good Meat pound.

ALMOND FACTS

Breakdown Requests Do not forget about breakdown requests. The foundation of an effective pest management program is accurate identification of the pest that’s causing the issue. With that in mind, it’s a good practice to request a reject breakdown on at least one delivery tag per orchard to receive detailed information on your delivery advance statement. The breakdown request will identify and list the percentage of damage caused by each type of pest (ants, Navel orangeworm, etc.) or the makeup of foreign material in each sample. Your huller can check the box marked “Rejects” and/or “Foreign Material” to get a clearer picture of the makeup of your sample. A new category for 2024 will be “Beetle” to designate the damage caused by the emerging pest, Carpophilis truncates . Many huller-shellers will routinely mark these on your behalf, but it may be worth sending them a reminder to be sure to mark a breakdown for each of your orchards. Tracking Loads with the Portal As I mentioned in my last article, being connected to the Blue Diamond Portal is essential to having updated information at your disposal. We plan to enable daily email notices of delivery, letting you know your almonds have been received. This new feature will allow you to open the portal to check weights and view grade information once tested. Check your Portal regularly for updates through harvest. Amazingly, this “harvest orchestra” moves along in unison with grower-member, huller-sheller, and Blue Diamond all working hand in hand to yield the best results. Lastly, you should have received your 2024 Crop Delivery Guide at the end of July. This guide contains additional details on these topics and in-depth information to help you make the most of the 2024 almond harvest.

Contact your regional manager to sign a Stockpile Advance Agreement. Then, when the crop has been harvested and stockpiled, your regional manager will work with the huller to calculate the estimated meat weight and document the weights on a Stockpile Description form. For piles located on your farm, measurements will be taken to estimate the meat weight. When the stockpile is picked up and hulled and/or shelled and received, our Grower Information System will determine the full value of the delivery and deduct the amount paid on through the Stockpile Advance Program. No interest is charged on stockpile advances. This program is offered as a service to our grower-members to help them through the critical harvest period. Leverage the Volume Premium A longstanding program that can be a significant benefit to grower-members is Blue Diamond ’s Volume Premium Program. You receive an incentive for delivery in bulk trailers. While most of the almond industry is standardized on 2200-pound wooden boxes delivered by flatbed truck, Blue Diamond is uniquely set up to receive and process bulk trailer deliveries very efficiently. Overall, about 80% of Blue Diamond ’s handle is delivered via bulk trailers. Each bin delivery has five times the processing cost per pound than each pound delivered in a bulk trailer. Just think about the number of steps involved in making a bin delivery. Every bin must be filled, placed on a flatbed truck, tied down, received, truck weighed, untied, each bin moved individually with a forklift, weighed again, dumped at receiving, and have tags entered into our system. Bulk deliveries provide a significant efficiency advantage due to their inherently simple process that requires only a few steps with minimal hands-on labor. If your huller- sheller is set up for bulk deliveries, and your product is not routinely delivered in bulk, it is wise to connect with your huller-sheller or regional manager to see if you may take advantage of the Volume Premium Program. More details regarding the program are listed in the Grower Statement section of your Crop Delivery Guide.

Ben Goudie, Director, Member Relations, Blue Diamond Growers

JULY–AUGUST 2024

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48

bluediamondgrowers.com

Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker