PRESIDENT’S CORNER
ANNUAL MEETING (NOVEMBER 16, 2022) PARTNERING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE CEO’s Speech
2022 was a year in which we all benefited from the strength of our relationships. Faced with unprecedented challenges, including January’s record levels of COVID infections in our plants, inflation levels we have not seen in 40 years, and broken global supply chains, our only course of action was to continue to build partnerships for a sustainable future. As has been our tradition, you will be introduced to a few of our everyday heroes who have built Blue Diamond partnerships. These exceptional professionals were heroic in the face of extraordinary challenges. The strength of our partnerships has allowed us to achieve amazing successes in the face of unexpected challenges. Our VP of Manufacturing, Jeff Hatfield, has led a team of 1,300 employees across three manufacturing plants. They remained continuously operational by leveraging our already strong safety culture to ensure team members felt safe at work. Being able to comply with a myriad of regulations across federal, state, and local jurisdictions added to the complexity. Fortunately, this is beginning to feel like past history. However, let us not forget, it was just January when, in our communities, we had the highest tested COVID levels. For their commitment to our mission, please join me in thanking Jeff and his 1,300 manufacturing team members across three campuses!
2022 was also the year when the world realized how fragile our global supply chains could become. We all heard about COVID shutdowns in China, rampant inflation, and the war in Ukraine. As you may know, the almond industry exports two-thirds of our crop and utilizes Oakland as its primary port. In the beginning, when there was a record lineup of ships that could not get unloaded, almonds were the first to suffer. Frustration increased knowing 70% of the vessels leaving to return to Asia were empty. A significant percent of ships skipped the port altogether. Our Blue Diamond VP of Supply Chain, Steve Schult, stepped into this crisis and partnered with everyone who could help, including California Department of Food and Agriculture, the CEO of Union Pacific Railroad and the Almond Alliance. Together, they collaborated to find new ways to get your almonds to market, including the now famous Almond Express. For his leadership in building partnerships, we offer a huge thanks to Steve Schult. The team’s innovation, partnership, and dogged determination allowed us to ship the 2021 crop. In the process we opened new pathways for the entire almond industry and California agriculture. Ultimately, we want the entire industry to be healthy!
Mark Jansen President & CEO
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ALMOND FACTS
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