almond insights

“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 May position report from Blue Diamond’s Global Ingredients Division is available. Each month I will share this industry report covering the state of crop supply, shipments, and domestic and export market status for the month and over prior year....

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...

The April shipment report from Blue Diamond’s Global Ingredients Division is available. Each month I will share this industry report covering the state of crop supply, shipments, and domestic and export market status for the month and over prior year....

Last week, growers in each of Blue Diamond’s 9 districts shared with me their outlook on their crop. After these visits, I was predicting a crop in the trees of 1.9 billion pounds. Water quality and availability could significantly lower this number. Often I heard their prediction followed by...

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...