Category: Mark’s Corner

With the recent California rains, many will forget the challenges of the historic drought.  Almond growers will never forget the negative publicity on the water use of our industry.  We responded by consistently sharing the facts, like almonds represent 13% of California agricultural acreage and only 9% of the...

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” – Abraham Lincoln It’s that time of year again when people all over the world set New Year’s resolutions for the year to come. Just like everyone else, the management team and board...

For Blue Diamond, business as usual is dramatically changing. We are dedicated to value-added almond product development, business expansions to meet demand and leading grower returns. With several years of success, we are establishing ourselves as the almond handler of choice. Our growers have always valued the power of the...

“As the leader of the West and as a country that has become great and rich because of economic freedom, America must be an unrelenting advocate of free trade.” –Ronald Reagan  With the worst drought in 1,200 years, uncertainty in water policy, declining almond crop yields, almond supply shortages and rising prices,...

The headlines have been unavoidable. Almonds have been painted as our state’s “thirstiest” crop but what these stories lack is context. Blue Diamond’s management team has been collaborating with industry experts to communicate the facts about agricultural water use to the media and our urban neighbors. According to a recent editorial...

As state agencies continue to interpret their role in the fight to conserve California’s water supply, I am thankful that leaders such as Governor Brown and CDFA Secretary Karen Ross continue to protect our state’s food production industry. CDFA Secretary Ross penned a strong op-ed in today’s Modesto Bee,...

Yesterday the Los Angeles Times reported a strong story sharing the perspective of almond growers. Here is an excerpt from the story that I wanted to share: Almonds, the demons of drought? Frustrated growers tell another story                Farmers are by necessity a...

The drought that farmers have been responding to for some time has finally captured the attention of the general public, due in large part to the Governor’s recent announcement of mandatory cuts in water usage in urban and suburban parts of the state. The most common question from people...