Mark Jansen
President & CEO
Investing for Future Growth
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
I am optimistic about almonds! The National
Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported
that California’s almond crop subjective
estimate is 2.3 billion pounds. Within the next
five years, the almond harvest is predicted
to increase to 3 billion pounds. Each number
reflects the changes happening within the
industry, including the trend of increased
plantings and increasing yields. When we
experience bigger crops, the almond industry
will be ready to sell them. That is the benefit
of a diverse global marketplace for California
almonds – more diverse than any other U.S.
agricultural commodity.
Blue Diamond
has built a strong reputation for
proactively managing change. As the almond
industry changes, so does our strategy
to deliver on the cooperative’s mission to
maximize the returns of each grower who
entrusts us with their almonds. Over the last
several years we have been able to sustain
industry-leading returns by improving our
margins, growing our competitive advantage
and investing in future growth. Looking ahead,
we want to continue to set high goals and
focus our efforts on achieving superior
economic returns, growing our business and
making
Blue Diamond Growers
a great place
to work.
Our mission will guide our work and the
Blue
Diamond
team is prepared to step-up growth
through further marketing and innovation
investments that accelerate value-added sales
while managing optimal almond supply. We
are seeing every major almond
-
consuming
country in the world continuing to eat more
almonds. This gives us an advantage as we
look to grow our presence within the consumer
brand, ingredient and food service segments.
Blue Diamond
is also reaching global retail
markets with enhanced advertising and
promotion. It is important to note that the
Blue Diamond
brand would not be where
it is today without these investments. It is our
additional commitment to develop the next
Almond Breeze
for
Blue Diamond
. By 2022,
we expect that half of our value-added growth
will be from products that didn’t exist in 2017!
Achieving these goals will rely on the many
talents of our dedicated
Blue Diamond
team
members and grower-owners. Together, we
value our ability to Play to Win and be the
best that we can be. It will be hard work.
One way our
Blue Diamond
growers can help
is by sharing their personal stories. Advocacy
of the
Blue Diamond
brand, farming in general
and almond growing, in particular, helps to
spread the word of the beneficial impacts
that almonds bring to farmers, consumers
and the California economy. There are many
wonderful stories to tell and getting out our
message to a global audience will enable
our cooperative – and industry – to flourish.
Our ability to achieve goals and make smart
investments for the future puts
Blue Diamond
in a good position to handle the larger crops
of future years. The co-op will consistently
pursue opportunities, partners and places
where we can deliver the benefits of almonds
to the world.
I promise,
Blue Diamond
is ready for this
year’s record crop and for the really big
crop yet to come!
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A L M O N D F A C T S
